Sunny Chicken Paella Recipes

THE ULTIMATE PAELLA

Steps:

• Combine the paprika and oregano in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Saute the chorizo until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken skin-side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs. Add salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove from pan and reserve.
• In the same pan, make a sofrito by sauteing the onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on a medium heat. Then, add tomatoes and cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Fold in the rice and stir-fry to coat the grains. Pour in water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid. Add chicken, chorizo, and saffron. Add the clams and shrimp, tucking them into the rice. The shrimp will take about 8 minutes to cook. Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, when the rice is filling the pan, add the lobster tails. When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom, then it's perfect.
• Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.

CHICKEN PAELLA WITH SHERRY VINEGAR

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas Mark 5.
• In a medium size paella pan (34cm diameter) or a large shallow casserole dish, heat one tablespoon of the oil. Once hot, add the chicken pieces and fry for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside. Allow the paella pan to cool down for a couple of minutes.
• While the pan is cooling down, in a small frying pan, gently toast on some tin foil the saffron threads for about 30 seconds, be careful not to burn them. This will release the essential oils within the saffron threads. Pour the saffron threads into a pestle and mortar and pound them until you obtain a fine powder. Pour 2 tablespoons of the hot chicken stock and mix well. The saffron powder will blend better into the hot liquid, so when you pour it into the paella rice, the saffron liquid will spread evenly.
• Add the remaining olive oil to the paella pan and gently fry the chopped garlic and spring onions until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the paella rice and stir for a few minutes on a gentle heat until the rice is slightly translucent. Return the fried pieces of chicken and mix well. Add the sherry vinegar, stir and allow the vinegar to reduce and completely evaporate. Add the smoked paprika and stir the rice for 30 seconds, followed by the tomato sofrito. Once the tomato sauce has cooked into the rice, pour in the hot chicken stock, followed by the saffron infused stock. Season with salt and spread the rice out evenly to cover the bottom of the paella pan. Bring to the boil. If you have a timer, set it to 17 minutes. The first 5 minutes, cook the paella on a very high heat until the rice rises to the surface. Check the stock for seasoning and add some more salt if necessary. Add the blanched broad beans, stir the rice and place the pan in the oven. After 12 minutes, remove the pan from the oven.
• Allow the paella to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PAELLA

Steps:

• Heal oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add in onions, garlic, bell pepper and chili flakes (if using) saute for about 3 minutes.
• Add in artichokes and olives; cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add in broth and water; bring to a boil.
• Add in the uncooked rice, salt and paprika; mix well, then add in saffron; season with black pepper cover and simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes.
• Add in the cooked chicken or turkey and peas; mix to combine; cover and cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender and the peas are cooked through.
• Season with more salt and pepper if desired.
• Remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

CHICKEN PAELLA

Steps:

• In a large deep non-stick skillet, or a paella pan with cover, warm olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper on all sides.
• Add the chicken, and brown on all sides.
• Remove chicken; set aside.
• Add in the onion and garlic, saute until translucent.
• Stir in the rice, cook for 1 minute.
• Add in tomatoes, chicken broth, capers and the cayenne pepper.
• Press chicken pieces down into the liquid.
• Cover the pan, and bring the liquid to a slow simmer; reduce the heat to very low.
• Cook until the rice is tender (about 30-40 minutes).
• Top with olives and peas; stir very gently.
• Arrange the pepper strips on top of the paella.
• Cover the pan again, cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the peas are hot.