Pams Paella Recipes

PERFECT PAELLA

Steps:

• In a very wide pan or paella pan, preheated over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, crushed garlic, red pepper flakes, add rice and saute 2 or 3 minutes. Add saffron threads, bay leaf, broth, and thyme and bring liquids to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with lid or foil and reduce heat to simmer.
• In a separate nonstick skillet, over medium high heat brown chicken on both sides in 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add peppers and onions to the pan and cook 3 minutes longer. Add chorizo to the pan and cook 2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat.
• After about 13 minutes, add shellfish to the rice pan, nesting them in cooking rice. Pour in peas, scatter lemon zest over the rice and seafood, then cover the pan again. After 5 minutes, remove cover or foil from the paella and discard any unopened mussel shells. Stir rice and seafood mixture and lift out bay and thyme stems, now bare of their leaves. Arrange cooked chicken and peppers, onions and chorizo around the pan. Top with parsley and scallions. Serve with wedges of lemon and warm bread.

PAM'S PAELLA

Steps:

• 1. Place the saffron and stock (and any shells from shrimp or other seafood) in a small saucepan on low until the liquids are hot. (You can also do this in the microwave)
• 2. Chop pancetta into 3/4 inch pieces. Chop chicken breast into 1 inch pieces. In a large (12 to 15-inch) skillet or paella pan, saute chopped pancetta until soft, add the coffee and let evaporate completely while pancetta finishes browning. Remove pancetta to a plate and set aside.
• 3. Add 2 Tbsp oil to the pan if needed. Quickly pat dry and season the scallops with a little salt and pepper. Sear the scallops in batches until brown and crusty on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove the scallops to the plate.
• 4. Add the chicken and brown, turning it on all sides, about 2-5 minutes until no longer pink. Set aside on the plate.
• 5. Turn the heat down to medium and sauté the onions in the remaining fat until translucent, scraping up any leftover brown bits from the pan. If the pan is dry, you may need to add another tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic, shallots and sliced peppers. Cook for another few minutes.
• 6. Add the rice and stir to coat in the onion mixture, allowing it to get covered in the oil and begin to toast. After 3-5 minutes, add the sherry, and cook until the liquids have evaporated by nearly half. Use your spatula to help deglaze the pan and lift up any caramelized bits.
• 7. Stir in the tomatoes (and their juices), paprika, salt and pepper. Return the pancetta to the pan. Strain saffron-stock and pour in as much as needed to submerge the rice mixture. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low or low, cover with lid very slightly ajar and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, and the rice is beginning to become crusty around the edges, about 25-45 minutes.(Check occasionally after 15 minutes for this small an amount and add a little more broth if needed to cook rice to tender.)
• 8. Arrange the scallops, chicken and shrimp around the surface of the paella, and add any juices back in the pan. Cover until seafood and chicken is reheated, any juices are absorbed and the rice is tender. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve hot, straight from the skillet.
• 9. NOTE: I substituted a large leek, sliced white part only, for the onion and shallot in this batch of paella. I also had a small lobster that I cleaned, chopped and added tail and claw meat. For a little extra kick, I used about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground Aleppo pepper along with the smoked paprika.

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.