Paella

Serves 6

Source: Recetas de Cocina Spain

We both love Paella and often order it in restaurants in Spain. It is most often served as the first course, but for us is a meal in itself as it usually comes complete with some type of meat or seafood. The most common type is probably the combination which tends to have sliced cured sausage (morcilla or chorizo), chicken, calamare rings and whole prawns (gambas). You can make it with your favorites or just whatever happens to be in the refrigerator (which is how is it usually made at home in Spain).

¼

cup

olive oil

1

large

onion, chopped

1

lb

tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1

clove

garlic, finely chopped

1

tsp

paprika

2

cups

rice (short grain)

600

grams

4

cups

water or stock, hot

1

liter

1

lb

meat, chicken or seafood, cut into bite-size pieces (chicken, sausage, cod, clams in the shell, and shrimp are most often used)

900

grams

1

clove

garlic

several threads of saffron

salt

1

can

red peppers (or 1 fresh red pepper, roasted, peeled, & seeded), cut into strips

3½

oz

green peas, cooked

100

grams

6

lemon wedges (for serving)

Heat the oil in a paella pan (large shallow fry pan will also work). Sauté the onion and chopped garlic for about 5 minutes, then add the pepper, sauté briefly, then add the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes.

Add the rice and heat briefly, stirring, then add the water or stock.

Briefly heat the saffron threads in a dry pan until crisp (be careful not to burn). Place the garlic, saffron and salt in a mortar and grind together. Add a few tablespoons full of cooking water/stock, mixing well, then add to the rice mixture and mix well. Sprinkle the meat pieces over the top, resting on top of the rice.

Cook over medium heat (simmering) for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the peas on top and decoratively place the peppers over the rice. Cook for another 5 minutes. Leave to set for 5 minutes before serving. Serve in the paella pan.

Serve with lemon wedges which each person squeezes liberally over their portion of Paella. ¡Que aproveche!

If you find typographical errors or have any other problems when looking at the site please send the Webmaster e-mail describing the problem and the page involved.