Seafood Paella
Seafood Paella is a flavorful Spanish dish with saffron-infused rice, shrimp, mussels, and squid. Here’s a traditional recipe to make this delicious dish:
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio or Bomba rice (Spanish paella rice)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads, soaked in 2 tbsp warm water
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 cups seafood or chicken broth, warmed
- 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 lb mussels, scrubbed and debearded
- 1/2 lb squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges and fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions:
- Sauté the Aromatics:
- In a large paella pan or wide skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Toast the Rice:
- Stir in the rice, smoked paprika, and saffron (with soaking water). Cook for 1-2 minutes to lightly toast the rice.
- Deglaze with Wine:
- Pour in the white wine and cook until mostly absorbed.
- Add the Broth and Cook the Rice:
- Pour in the warm broth, stirring gently to distribute the rice evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer, without stirring, for 15-20 minutes, until the rice is nearly tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Add the Seafood:
- Arrange the shrimp, mussels, and squid on top of the rice.
- Scatter the peas over the top, cover with foil or a lid, and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the seafood is cooked and the mussels open up.
- Finish and Serve:
- Remove from heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and chopped parsley before serving.
Serve this classic seafood paella family-style and enjoy the vibrant flavors!
For more cooking inspiration, explore Steamed Mussels with White Wine and Garlic Sauce and Grilled Shrimp with Lemon and Garlic. Browse all our recipes for more ideas.
