Garlicky Clam Paella Food

WEEKNIGHT SEAFOOD PAELLA

Steps:

• Clean the clams and soak in cold water for 20 minutes.
• Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and season with 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice and Old Bay.
• Heat a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add 1 teaspoon of oil and sauté the chorizo, onions, garlic and paprika until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Push aside, add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in the center and add the rice, stirring to coat with the oil. Sauté 3 minutes.
• Add the diced tomatoes, broth, salt, saffron threads (crumbled between fingers) and bay leaf.
• Mix and bring to a boil, stirring once, place the bell pepper over the rice, reduce heat to low and cover tightly, cook 15 minutes. Uncover, add the clams, shrimp and peas.
• Cover tightly again and cook on low heat until the clams open up and the shrimp are cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Uncover the skillet, raise the heat to medium-high and cook to toast the bottom of the rice, you should hear it sizzling, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Discard the bay leaf and garnish with parsley.

SEAFOOD PAELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the grill: Heat a gas grill to medium-high heat (375°F), or light a charcoal grill and let burn until the charcoal is covered with gray ash.
• Assemble the ingredients by the grill: On a table next to the grill, set the skillet with the sofrito, the rice, tomatoes, infused stock, salt, peas, shrimp, mussels, and clams.
• Check to see if the bottom is browned: Slip a spatula under the rice and check to see if you have achieved the elusive golden brown socarrat . If not, set the pan over the heat, uncovered, for a few minutes to lightly caramelize the bottom. Sprinkle with parsley and bring the whole pan to the table for serving.

SEAFOOD PAELLA

Steps:

• Soak the saffron in 2 Tbs. of hot water.
• In a Paella pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil. Add the onions and cook for 4 minutes. Add the rice and the saffron and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomatoes, garlic and chicken broth and bring to boil. Lower the heat and add half of ALL the seafood, the peas and the red pepper. Seasoning with salt and black pepper. Mix once.
• Add the rest of the seafood on top. Cover with parchment paper and lid. Simmer for 30 minutes. DO NOT MIX AGAIN.
• Uncover, let it seat for 5 minutes and serve.

PAELLA WITH CHORIZO, SHRIMP, CLAMS AND CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AIOLI

Steps:

• For the paella: Add the chicken stock, saffron threads and shrimp shells to a medium saucepan and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coat the paella pans generously with olive oil. Add the chorizo, dividing it between the two pans. Set the pans over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the chorizo is crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken to the pans and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is beginning to brown, but isn't cooked all the way through.
• Add the garlic, celery, onions, peppers and tomato to a food processor and pulse until chopped into a coarse paste. Add to the paella pans and cook until all of the liquid has evaporated and the veggies are soft and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add the peas and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add about 1/2 cup of the stock to each pan and stir, making sure to scrape up the fond from the bottom of the pans. Season to taste with salt. Add about another cup of the stock to each pan, then bring the liquid to a boil.
• Add the rice and stir until thoroughly combined. Nestle the clams into the rice and cook for 5 minutes. Nestle the shrimp into the rice and simmer until the shrimp are pink and cooked through and the clams have fully opened, 5 minutes.
• For the aioli: Meanwhile, add the vinegar, garlic and egg yolks to a food processor and process until combined. With the machine running, slowly add the oil to emulsify the mixture. Season to taste with salt.
• For serving: Garnish with the chives and a drizzle of aioli.

SPICY CLAM & PORK PAELLA

Steps:

• Heat half the olive oil in a paella pan or a large frying pan. Tip in the pork and cook for about 5 mins until lightly browned, but not cooked through. Remove from the pan, then set aside on a plate. Pour the remaining olive oil into the pan, then add in the onion, garlic and chorizo. Cook for about 5 mins until the onion is softened and the chorizo is starting to crisp and give off its oil.
• Add the rice and paprika to the pan, then stir around for 1-2 mins until all the grains of rice are well coated. Can be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance and stored in the fridge.
• Pour the tomatoes and any juices into the pan along with the pork and 900ml of the vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, then let it gently simmer for about 20 mins until the rice is nearly soft. Place the spinach in a sieve, then pour over a kettle of boiling water so the leaves are just wilted. Arrange the spinach leaves in the pan along with the clams. Pour over the remaining 100ml vegetable stock, then cook for another 10 mins. By this time the clams should have opened (discard any that haven't) and the rice should be tender. Serve straight away from the pan.

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.

PASTA PAELLA WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the pasta to the skillet and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Add the paprika and garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 2 cups water, the green beans, olives and chorizo; nestle the clams in the skillet. Cover and cook until the pasta is tender and the clams open, 8 to 10 minutes. (Discard any unopened clams.) Stir in the piquillo pepper and parsley. Serve with lemon wedges.

SEAFOOD PAELLA

Steps:

• Fry the onion in the oil in a 16-inch paella pan until soft, stirring often. Stir in the garlic, and before it begins to color, add the tomatoes. Add the sugar, salt to taste, pimentón (or paprika), and saffron, stir well, and cook until the tomatoes are reduced to a jammy sauce and the oil is sizzling. Add the squid and cook, stirring, for a minute or so. Add the rice and stir well until all the grains are coated. (You can prepare the dish to this point up to an hour in advance.)
• Bring the stock and wine to a boil in a saucepan. Pour over the rice, bring to a boil, and add salt to taste (even if the broth tastes a bit salty, it will not be salty when it is absorbed by the rice). Stir well and spread the rice out evenly in the pan (do not stir again). Cook the rice over low heat for 18 to 20 minutes, moving the pan around and rotating it so that the rice cooks evenly. Lay the shrimp on top after 10 minutes and turn them when they have become pink on the first side. Add a little more hot stock toward the end if the rice seems too dry and you hear crackly frying noises before it is done. When the rice is done, turn off the heat and cover the pan with a large piece of foil.
• Steam the mussels with a finger of water in a pan with a tight-fitting lid. As soon as they open, they are cooked. Throw away any that have not opened.
• Arrange the mussels on top of the paella.

SEAFOOD PAELLA

Steps:

• Peel and de-vein the prawns, reserving the heads and shells. Return the prawns to the fridge.
• To make the stock, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium-high heat and add the onion, tomatoes, garlic, and reserved prawn shells and heads. Cook for 3-4 mins, then pour in 2 litres of water and add the stock cube and star anise. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 mins. Leave to cool slightly, then whizz in batches in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine sieve.
• Heat the oil in a large paella pan or an extra-large frying pan. Brown the monkfish for a few mins each side, then remove and set aside. Add the onion and fry for 4-5 mins until softened.
• Stir in the rice and cook for 30 secs to toast. Add the garlic, paprika, cayenne (if using) and saffron, cook for another 30 secs, then stir in the tomatoes and 1.5 litres of the fish stock. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook, stirring, for about 10 mins (the rice should still be al dente). Return the monkfish to the pan with the prawns, mussels, peas and broad beans.
• Cover the pan with a large baking tray, or foil, and cook on a low heat for another 10-15 mins until the mussels are open and the prawns are cooked through. Scatter over the parsley before serving.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH GARLIC-PARSLEY BUTTER AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Make the garlic butter: Combine butter, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Whiz until bright green and well incorporated, about 1 minute. Season lightly with salt and pepper. (You may make the garlic butter in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 weeks, but it tastes best freshly made.)
• Set a wide, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil and swirl to coat. Add leeks, stir to coat, and cook for 30 seconds, then add clams and wine.
• Turn heat to high, cover and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until all clams have opened. With a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer clams to individual bowls.
• In the same skillet, over medium heat, add lime zest, lime juice and butter, and let simmer briefly, about 30 seconds, until warmed through. Pour sauce over clams, garnish with lime wedges and serve.

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.