Cheaters Paella Recipes

ALL-AMERICAN PAELLA

Steps:

• In a very large skillet (at least 14 inches in diameter), or in a 15-inch paella pan, heat three-quarters of a cup of the olive oil over high heat until very hot, about two minutes. Add the chicken-wing drumsticks and the sausages and saute, turning frequently, for about five minutes, until the meats are nicely browned. Remove and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Discard the oil in the skillet and add the remaining quarter cup of olive oil; heat over medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic and saute for five minutes, stirring frequently, or just until the onion begins to turn golden brown. Add the chopped tomatoes, pureed red peppers and pulverized chili pepper, and simmer over medium-high heat for five minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the rice to the skillet and stir over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add the hot chicken broth, white wine, lemon juice, parsley, chives, bay leaf, salt, pepper and hot-pepper sauce. Stir over medium-high heat for five minutes.
• Turn off the heat and add to the skillet the reserved chicken wings and sausages, the lobster, ham, mussels, squid and sugar snap peas. Stir once, carefully, and place the skillet, uncovered, in the preheated oven. After 20 minutes, taste the rice to make sure it is completely cooked. If so, remove from oven and cover loosely with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

EASY PAELLA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.
• Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

EASY PAELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, or as near as you can. Warm the stock in a saucepan with the saffron. Place a 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. One minute later, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice, and cook, stirring occasionally, until glossy -- just a minute or two. Season liberally with salt and pepper, and add the warmed stock, taking care to avoid the rising steam. Stir in the shrimp, and transfer the pan to the oven.
• Bake about 25 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is dry on top. Garnish, and serve immediately.

CHEATER'S PAELLA

Steps:

• Wash and cube chicken.
• Bring water to boil in a large sauce pan. Add rice with seasoning and butter or olive oil.
• Cook for 1 minute, then cover and reduce heat to simmering.
• Cook rice for 20-25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray.
• Saute chicken, garlic and fresh cracked pepper on medium heat till chicken is white on the outside, but not cooked through (about 10 minutes).
• Add vegetables and stir to combine. Cover and cook another 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove chicken and vegetables from skillet with a slotted spoon and mix into rice.

PAELLA MASTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add about 1/2 pound of meat (or a combination of meats), sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until nicely browned. Add one chopped onion and some minced bell pepper at the same time if you like and cook until soft. (If you want a meatless paella, skip right to the onion.)
• Add 2 cups rice and (if you have it) a pinch of saffron and cook, stirring, until shiny. Add 3 1/2 cups of your liquid of choice, heated, and stir until just combined, then stir in seafood (or lay it on top of the rice). Again, skip the seafood if you want vegetarian paella.
• Cook over medium-high heat, undisturbed. If the pan is too big for your burner, move it around a little; but after that initial stirring, leave it alone. When the mixture starts to dry, begin tasting the rice; if the liquid amount seems O.K., keep going. If the rice seems quite tough, add another 1/2 cup or so of liquid. And if you can smell the bottom starting to burn, lower the heat a bit. About halfway through the cooking (about 10 minutes), add any vegetables, adjust seasonings and stir gently, just once.
• The rice is done when tender and still a bit moist; if the mixture has stuck to the bottom of the pan, congratulations: you have socarrat, a characteristic of good paella. This should be served in the pan, in the middle of the table, and dinner guests - up to six - should fight over it.