Authentic Seafood Paella for Holiday Celebrations
Something about serving a generous platter of seafood paella makes a meal instantly festive. One glance at the mound of golden rice grains heaped with seafood can make mouths water. Scrape the bottom of the pan to get the crispy socarrat crust and squeeze lemon juice all over – it is an absolute showstopper.
Yes, cooking authentic paella is a bit tedious. And with its list of premium ingredients, the dish can be pricey, too. But the result is nothing short of impressive. If you’re thinking of ways to show how much you care for your loved ones, look no further. Learn how to cook seafood paella for your next feast with this step-by-step guide.
Preparation time
60Min.
Feeds
9People
Hard
Expensive
Ingredients
- For the broth:
- 2 pcs Knorr Chicken Cubes
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 tsp saffron threads
- 2 (8-oz) bottles clam juice
- For the herb blend:
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried tarragon
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- For the paella:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 kg white-flesh fish fillet, cleaned and sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 kg jumbo shrimp (about 16 pcs), peeled and deveined with tails intact
- 2 cups finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups uncooked arborio or any short-grain rice
- 1 cup frozen green peas
- 16 white clams
- 1 (7-oz) jar pimiento, drained
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Cooking Method
Did you know that paella was a lunchtime meal for farmers in Valencia? Workers would gather available ingredients to make it. Tomatoes, snails, chicken, and rabbit were among the usual inclusions. The recipe evolved into numerous variations, including a pure seafood one. Today, paella is one of the best-known Spanish dishes, along with gambas, callos, and lengua estofado. Don't feel intimidated to make this festive dish for your next party. With some patience, you can succeed and make a winner seafood paella for your VIP guests.
