PAELLA ESPANIA

Paella Espania image

Provided by Tyler Florence

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

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1frying chicken, cut in 12 pieces
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Spanish chorizo sausages
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 Spanish onion, diced
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
Pinch sweet paprika
2 cups Spanish rice, short to medium grain, like Valencia
2 teaspoons saffron threads
6 cups warm stock or water
2 lobster tails, split
1 pound calamari (squid), cleaned and cut in rings
1 pound jumbo shrimp
1 dozen mussels, cleaned
1/2 cup sweet peas, frozen and thawed
Lemon wedges
Pimentos, cut in strips

Steps:

Rinse the chicken pieces and pat dry. Season all over with salt, black pepper, and oregano. Heat the oil in a paella pan or wide skillet. Brown the chicken on all sides, when nearly cooked through, add the chorizo links and brown.
Remove the chicken and sausage from the pan. Cut the sausages into slices and set aside. Drain out excess oil but don't clean the pan. Make a sofrito by sauteing the garlic, onion, and tomatoes, cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Season with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
Add the rice, stirring to coat the grains. Steep the saffron in 1/4-cup hot water for 5 minutes then stir it into the rice.
Add the stock/water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks and absorbs evenly. Do not cover or constantly stir like risotto. Add the shellfish and the reserved chicken and sausage. Simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente and the mussels have opened. (Do not eat any mussels that do not.)
Scatter the peas on top and continue to cook until the liquid is absorbed. The ideal paella has a toasted rice bottom called socarrat. Allow to rest off the heat for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with lemon wedges and strips of pimento.