What is paella? Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that originated in the Valencia region. It’s a flavorful and versatile dish typically made with rice, saffron, and a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. Here’s a basic recipe for making paella:
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What you need to make a Paella?
Ingredients:
2 cups short-grain rice
4 cups chicken broth
1 pinch of saffron threads
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cup green beans, trimmed and halved
1/2 cup peas
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, cut into wedges
You can choose a combination of the following for your protein:
1 pound chicken thighs, bone-in
1/2 pound rabbit
1/2 pound chorizo or Spanish sausage
1/2 pound shrimp
1/2 pound mussels
1/2 pound clams
You can buy the ingredients from most Canadian grocery stores including the No Frills, Food Basics, Save on Foods, FreshCo, Costco Canada or Superstore.
Instructions:
Heat the chicken broth in a small saucepan then add the saffron threads to infuse the broth with flavor and color. Allow it to simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a paella pan or a large, shallow skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat then add the chicken thighs and rabbit pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, add the chopped onion and cook until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the sliced bell peppers, chopped tomato, green beans, and peas. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened.
Sprinkle paprika over the vegetables and stir to combine, then season with salt and pepper to your taste.
Next step, add the rice to the pan and stir to coat it with the vegetables and spices, then pour the saffron-infused chicken broth into the pan, distributing it evenly.
Allow the paella to simmer over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is almost cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
If you are using shrimps, mussels, clams or chorizo, then nestle them into the rice and cook until the seafood is cooked through, the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the paella from heat and let it rest for a few minutes. Garnish with lemon wedges before serving.
You can serve the paella directly from the pan, and enjoy this delicious Spanish dish with family and friends.