An easy recipe for seafood paella that results in the freshest most delicious paella ever! The best paella recipe for serving guests for special occasions!
Prep Time: 15 minutesmins
Cook Time: 1 hourhr
Total Time: 1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Ingredients
3Tbsavocado oil or olive oil
1yellow onionchopped
4chicken thighschopped
3clovesgarlicminced
1 1/2cupsarborio rice*
128-ounce can diced tomatoes
½teaspoonground turmeric
Pinchsaffron threadsoptional
4cupslow-sodium chicken broth
1/2teaspoonsea saltto taste
1bay leaf
1poundraw shrimppeeled and de-veined
1poundchorizo linkssliced
1poundmusselsscrubbed
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large paella pan (or wok or skillet) to medium-high. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes. (Note: you can also use a large wok, Dutch oven, or skillet if you don't have a paella pan).
Add the chopped chicken thighs to the skillet with the onion, along with the minced garlic. Cook, stirring every couple of minutes until the chicken is browned, but not cooked through.
Add the rice, diced tomatoes, turmeric, and saffron, and stir to combine, cooking about 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, sea salt, and bay leaf, and bring to a full boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until much of the liquid has been absorbed, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Remove the cover from the pan and arrange the raw shrimp and mussels in the paella mixture. Replace the cover and cook until shrimp has turned plump and pink and mussels have opened, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Give the paella a big stir and taste for flavor. If necessary, continue cooking the paella if the rice isn't fully cooked. Add sea salt and seasonings to taste. Serve with freshly chopped parsley, lemon wedges and hot sauce.
Notes
*You can also use any rice of choice, but arborio rice yields the creamiest texture