Teresa's Kitchen
Paella Espania
1 frying chicken, cut into 12 pieces
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 Spanish chorizo sausages
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 Spanish onion, diced
Pinch sweet paprika
2 teaspoons saffron threads
2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded & finely chopped
2 cups Spanish rice, short to medium grain, like Valencia
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
Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Season 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 chicken and sausage from the pan. Cut sausages into slices and set aside. Drain excess oil but don't clean the pan. Make a sofrito by sauteing the garlic, onion, and tomatoes, cook until mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Season with salt, 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 into rice.
Add 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 open.)
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.**
