Mixed Seafood Paella Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

By Tested and perfected in the Sur La Table kitchen

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Serves

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 16 large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
  • 16 Manila clams, scrubbed
  • 16 mussels, scrubbed
  • 1 teaspoon pimenton, divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces Spanish chorizo, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, more as needed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 large pinch saffron threads
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 3-½ cups low-sodium chicken stock, hot
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 medium lemons cut into wedges for serving
  • 2 cups Valencia or Bomba rice

Procedure

Paella is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in mid-19th century Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. This version is a free-form combination of seafood, making it a colorful and delicious combination. During warm weather months, cover the paella and finish cooking it on a grill for a traditionally smoky note.

Place the shrimp in a medium bowl, add ¼ teaspoon pimenton and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Heat a large paella pan over moderate-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until slightly brown and fat has been rendered, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or spider, remove the sausage and place in a medium bowl.

There should be a thin layer of rendered fat in the pan. If not, add 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan. Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, remaining ¾ teaspoon of pimenton and saffron. Stir to combine and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes and cook until the mixture has slightly darkened in color, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and measured salt, stirring to coat in the tomato mixture.

Add the wine and stir until absorbed. Add the chicken stock, stirring to combine and arranging the rice mixture in an even layer. Distribute the rendered chorizo evenly over the top, cover the pan and simmer on medium-low heat. Avoid stirring the rice from this point forward.

Check the pan when you hear the crackling noise of the rice, about 12 minutes. Most of the liquid should be absorbed.

Add the shrimp, clams, and mussels to the pan, tucking them into the rice. Continue to cook on a low simmer until mussels and clams open, about 8 to 10 minutes.

To serve: Place the rice into warmed bowls, top with parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

By Tested and perfected in the Sur La Table kitchen

Serves

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 16 large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
  • 16 Manila clams, scrubbed
  • 16 mussels, scrubbed
  • 1 teaspoon pimenton, divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces Spanish chorizo, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, more as needed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 large pinch saffron threads
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 3-½ cups low-sodium chicken stock, hot
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 medium lemons cut into wedges for serving
  • 2 cups Valencia or Bomba rice

Procedure

Paella is a Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in mid-19th century Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. This version is a free-form combination of seafood, making it a colorful and delicious combination. During warm weather months, cover the paella and finish cooking it on a grill for a traditionally smoky note.

Place the shrimp in a medium bowl, add ¼ teaspoon pimenton and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Heat a large paella pan over moderate-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until slightly brown and fat has been rendered, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or spider, remove the sausage and place in a medium bowl.

There should be a thin layer of rendered fat in the pan. If not, add 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan. Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, remaining ¾ teaspoon of pimenton and saffron. Stir to combine and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes and cook until the mixture has slightly darkened in color, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and measured salt, stirring to coat in the tomato mixture.

Add the wine and stir until absorbed. Add the chicken stock, stirring to combine and arranging the rice mixture in an even layer. Distribute the rendered chorizo evenly over the top, cover the pan and simmer on medium-low heat. Avoid stirring the rice from this point forward.

Check the pan when you hear the crackling noise of the rice, about 12 minutes. Most of the liquid should be absorbed.

Add the shrimp, clams, and mussels to the pan, tucking them into the rice. Continue to cook on a low simmer until mussels and clams open, about 8 to 10 minutes.

To serve: Place the rice into warmed bowls, top with parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

Mixed Seafood Paella Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in paella? ›

Sofrito. Sofrito is a flavorful mixture of onions, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers that is used as a base for many Spanish and Latin American dishes, including paella. It's often called the "secret ingredient" in paella, as it adds a depth of flavor and richness to the dish.

What is the secret to a good paella? ›

The broth, together with saffron and sofrito, a mix of olive oil, tomato, garlic, and paprika, are responsible for the paella's flavor. Lledo says that a cook should not overload the paella with ingredients, either meat or vegetables. He says limiting ingredients and letting each element of the dish shine is key.

What is the Spanish dish paella made up of answer? ›

Paella (pai·ei·uh) is a classic Spanish rice dish made with rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, and seafood cooked and served in one pan.

What is the most important ingredient in paella Why is it so important? ›

Rice is the most important ingredient in traditional paella, and choosing the right type of rice is crucial to achieving the perfect texture and flavor of the dish. Short-grain rice is preferred because it has the ability to absorb the liquid and flavors of the dish while maintaining its structure and texture.

What is the most important spice in paella? ›

Saffron is the most precious spice in the world and also a star ingredient in most paella dishes. Make the most of your paella night by using a high quality saffron.

What is the best broth for paella? ›

Water is actually the most-often-used liquid in “authentic” paella, but stock is in many cases better. Chicken stock is all-purpose, and a not-too-strong meat stock will work nicely, too. Fish stock is fine as long as you're including fish, and a quickly made shrimp-shell stock might be your best alternative.

What can you not put in paella? ›

What Can You Not Put in Paella? Real paella does not include many ingredients that go into other rice dishes. Some of these include onions, peas, mushrooms, carrots, and chorizo. While all good combinations with rice, these aren't part of the traditional paella recipes.

How do I add flavor to paella? ›

Spanish saffron

If you're after authenticity in a seafood paella then you have to add saffron for colour and flavour. Spanish saffron should be bought as strands, not powdered, and it needs to be steeped in liquid so it's evenly distributed. Yes, it's an expensive spice but a little goes a long way.

Why is it important not to stir paella? ›

Rice used in paella absorbs more liquid than Arborio rice and you get a drier rice in the end. You also do not stir the rice in paella once the liquid is added, and it is added all at once; so the rice retains more starch for a firm texture.

What to serve with seafood paella? ›

Another good dishes to serve with paella are tomato bread, Spanish green salad, patatas bravas, green beans, fried rice, gazpacho, roasted red peppers, garlic shrimp, Spanish omelette, marinated olives, grilled artichokes, and sautéed spinach with garlic.

What is the English of paella? ›

Paella is a Valencian word that means frying pan, from which the dish gets its name. Valencian speakers use the word paella for all pans, including the traditional shallow pan used for cooking the hom*onym dish. The pan is made of polished or coated steel with two side handles.

Should paella have onions? ›

Onion: Most Spanish recipes call for a fried onion as the basis of the dish, but paella isn't one of them.

Does paella have to include seafood? ›

Now paella is the generic name of 200 or so distinctive rice dishes or 'arroces' from the Valencia region let alone other parts of Spain and the rest of the world. To this day a "true" Paella Valenciana has no seafood but a mixture of chicken, rabbit and snails with green and white beans.

What kind of paprika is best for paella? ›

The ideal paprika to use for paella is smoked paprika, in which the peppers have been dried in the smoke of an oak fire. Our favorite is the La Vera 'bittersweet' variety, which is available from The Spanish Table.

Why is there no chorizo in paella? ›

Does paella need to have chorizo? No, paella doesn't need to have chorizo; Most Spanish cooks would not put chorizo in paella, the sausage's strong taste being considered as overwhelming the delicate saffron flavor of the rice. Paella normally has only one kind of meat (chicken or rabbit are often used).

What spice is used in paella and is very expensive? ›

Saffron is the main spice to use, when making Paella. Saffron is the most expensive spice on Earth and is the red-yellow stigma of the crocus flower and must be hand-picked during short annual flowering seasons.

Why do you not put onions in paella? ›

You should have noticed their 10 essential ingredients do not include onions. That's because the vast majority of Valencians agree that onions do not go into a Valencian paella. Valencians say onions make the rice go soft.

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