Paella On The Grill Recipes

GRILLED PAELLA

Steps:

• If using, soak the wood chips in water. In a large pot, stir the saffron into the chicken broth and set over medium heat. Once hot, lower the heat and keep warm.
• In an 18-inch paella pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. (A large, wide, shallow, flameproof saucepan may be substituted - or, in a pinch, an enameled Dutch oven.) Season the chicken thighs all over with salt and pepper and brown on all sides in the hot oil. Transfer to a plate. Cook the chorizo in the same pan until it starts to brown. Transfer to a second, paper-towel-lined plate. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Light a charcoal grill with about a large cereal box's worth of charcoal. Return the paella pan to the stove and set over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, then add the rice and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bring the stock, paella pan, chicken, chorizo and other ingredients to a table near the grill. When the fire is at its peak heat (all of the coals are lit, and you can hold your hand over the hottest part of the fire for only a few seconds), quickly stir the shrimp, chorizo and peas into the rice, then add 2 quarts of stock. Add the clams hinge-side up so that when they open in the heat, their juices are released into the rice. Nestle the chicken on top. Using thick gloves and a pair of tongs, carefully remove the grill grate. Drain the wood chips and drop them into the fire. Quickly replace the grill grate and set the paella pan on the grate. Cover the grill and cook the paella until all the liquid has absorbed, 25 to 30 minutes. If the rice is underdone, add another cup of stock and return to the fire for 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and, if you choose, top with parsley.

PAELLA ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Mix all Saffron Marinade ingredients. In glass or plastic dish or resealable food-storage plastic bag, place all Paella ingredients except rice. Pour marinade over mixture; stir to coat. Cover dish or seal bag and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Remove chicken mixture from marinade; reserve marinade. Place chicken mixture in grill basket.
• Cover and grill chicken mixture 4 inches from medium heat 20 to 25 minutes, stirring and brushing with marinade occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Discard any remaining marinade. Serve chicken mixture with rice.

GRILLED PAELLA WITH CHICKEN, CHORIZO, SHRIMP AND MUSSELS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium on one side and medium high on the other side. If using charcoal, stack the briquettes so they are layered at least halfway up to the grates.
• Remove 4 wide strips of zest from the lemons, then cut the lemons in half and set aside. Combine the chicken broth, lemon zest strips and the saffron in a medium saucepan. Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails intact, then add the shells to the saucepan. Devein the shrimp, place in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to grill. Heat the broth mixture over medium-low heat until steaming; cook 25 to 30 minutes, reducing the heat as needed if the broth starts to simmer. Strain into a large measuring cup or heatproof container.
• Meanwhile, combine the bell pepper, onion, tomatoes and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Put the chicken in a large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the smoked paprika.
• Grill the lemon halves and chicken over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until the lemon halves are charred, 3 to 5 minutes, and the chicken skin is golden brown and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Meanwhile, set a 15-inch paella pan on the grill grates over medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chorizo and cook, flipping once, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato mixture, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices have almost evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid is evaporated, 3 to 4 more minutes. Add the rice and a big pinch of salt; stir to combine and toast lightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the strained broth and stir to combine. Close the grill and cook without stirring, rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through, until the rice is plumped and about half of the liquid is absorbed, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in the olives and peas. Nestle the chicken, shrimp and mussels in the rice. Grill, covered and rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through, until the shrimp and chicken are cooked through and the mussels have opened, 10 to 20 more minutes (discard any mussels that do not open).
• Remove the paella from the grill and top with the parsley. Serve with the grilled lemon halves.

GRILLED PAELLA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the paprika and garlic powder. Season the chicken, shrimp and calamari with the mixture. Brush both sides of the meat and seafood with 3 tablespoons of the canola oil. Let marinate 1 hour refrigerated.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
• Season both sides of the meat and seafood generously with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken a few minutes per side to crisp the skin, then move to a cooler part of the grill to finish cooking, about 10 minutes. Remove and place on a baking sheet. Grill the shrimp 1 to 2 minutes per side, then remove to the baking sheet. Grill the calamari a few minutes per side. Slice the calamari into rings on a cutting board and transfer to the baking sheet. Grill the lemon halves cut-side down until grill-marked, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to the baking sheet. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine the chicken stock and saffron threads. Bring to a simmer, whisking until the saffron dissolves. (This can be done on the grill as well, or on the stove inside and brought out to the grill area. The stock should be hot while you are making the paella.)
• Place an 18-inch paella pan (or large cast-iron skillet) over the hottest part of the grill. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil, add the onions and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the fat starts to render and it begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, coating it in the chorizo fat and toasting it, about 2 minutes. Using a ladle, begin to add the stock, stirring constantly. Cook, continuing to add the stock as it absorbs, until the rice is al dente, 15 to 20 minutes. Once the stock is absorbed, stir in the peas. Now, stop stirring to allow the "soccarrat" to form (this is the crispy bottom on the rice; it's not burnt!). Allow the bottom to crisp up for about 5 minutes.
• Arrange the chicken, seafood, lemon halves and peppers on top of the rice. Sprinkle the parsley and scallions over the top. Use a spoon or spatula to scrape up the crispy bottom of the rice and serve.