Al Andalus Paella Recipes

ANDALUSIAN PAELLA

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into regular pieces and add salt. Over medium heat in the centre of the paella, heat the olive oil.
• Slowly fry the meat. Once well roasted, push it towards the edges where the fire no longer cooks it. Cook the mussels, the gambas, the shrimps and set them aside. Cut into small pieces and fry the squids or cuttlefish and push them towards the edges with the meat. Place the vegetables in the centre and fry them slightly. Push the vegetables towards the edges with the rest. In the centre, add the grated tomato and slowly brown it. Add the sweet pepper when the tomato is almost fried.
• Add more water than you need. Reduce it until only remains the right amount of water, between 2,5 and 3 times the volume of rice.
• Pour in the rice and the saffron, properly scatter them in the paella. Let it cook at very high heat for 8 to 10 minutes. The rice should start to appear. Then add the langoustines, shrimps and mussels. By pushing them very slightly. Reduce the heat for the last 8 to 10 minutes. Let stand, off the heat a few minutes before serving.

AL ANDALUS PAELLA

Steps:

• Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add 1 tbsp oil to each of two 12-14 inch skillets or paella pans set over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add half of the chicken thighs to each pan and brown on both sides, 15-20 minute Transfer to platter.
• While the chicken is browning, toast the saffron threads in a 2 qt saucepan. Remove from heat and crush the threads with the back of a spoon. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Add 5 1/2 cups additional broth to the saffron infusion and bring to a simmer, hold until needed over low heat.
• If using turmeric instead of the saffron threads, pour 6 cups chicken broth into a 2 qt sauce pan, add the turmeric, and bring to a simmer, hold until needed over low heat.
• Divide the green beans and artichoke hearts between the two pans and saute for 5-6 minutes. Transfer beans and hearts to the platter with the chicken.
• Remove all but 1 tbsp of fat from each pan and divide the onion and garlic between the pans. Saute until the onion is translucent. Divide the pepper flakes and the smoked paprika between the two pans and saute for 30-60 seconds. Add the tomatoes between both pans and saute until the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated and the mixture is thickened, about 5-7 minutes more.
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of rice over the onion mixture in each pan. Pour 3 cups of the hot broth evenly over each pan of rice, then arrange the chorizo, green beans and artichoke hearts on the rice. Nestle the chicken thighs into both pans and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer rapidly until the rice appears on the surface of the mixtures, about 5-6 minutes. Arrange the roasted red pepper slices over both pans. Divide the shrimp between both pans and push the shrimp down into the rice.
• Continue simmering until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is al dente, another 8-10 minutes. If all the liquid has been absorbed but the rice is not done, add a little more broth and cook a few minutes more.
• Cover the pans with aluminum foil and cook gently for another 2 minutes to ensure that the top layer of rice is cooked evenly. With the pans still covered, raise the heat to medium high and cook until the bottom layer of rice begins to brown. You may hear rice crackling, which is normal, but if the rice begins to burn, remove the pans from the heat immediately.
• Check the chicken for doneness. Sprinkle the peas over each pan and let stand, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
• While the paella is standing, bring the remaining chicken broth (or water if you used all of the broth earlier) to a boil in a medium saucepan and add the clams or mussels. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the clams/mussels have opened. Arrange the opened clams/mussels over each pan of paella, discarding any that did not open. Serve directly from the pan with wedges of lemon to squeeze over the rice.

PAELLA

Steps:

• Spritz 4 to 5 pieces of newspaper with vegetable oil and put in the bottom of a charcoal chimney starter. Fill the chimney with half of the charcoal and light the newspaper.
• When the charcoal is lightly covered with gray ash, carefully pour onto the bottom grate of a kettle grill and spread evenly. Top with the remaining unlit charcoal, spreading evenly so as not to suffocate the lit charcoal. Set the second grate in the kettle and cover until ready to cook.
• Meanwhile, halve the tomatoes and remove the seeds to a fine mesh strainer set over a small bowl to catch the juice. Grate the seeded halves on the large hole side of a box grater and discard the skins. Combine the reserved juice and grated tomato and set aside.
• Warm the chicken broth in a kettle or 4-quart saucepan over high heat until it reaches 200 degrees F. Remove the broth from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Combine the rice, saffron, rosemary, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and paprika in a small mixing bowl.
• Heat the olive oil in the paella pan on the prepared grill. Season the chicken on all sides with the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Once the olive oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side. Move the chicken to the outer edges of the pan. Add the green beans, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and garlic to the center of the pan and cook until they begin to soften and darken in color, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice and cook until most of the liquid has dissipated and the tomatoes thicken and darken, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the rice mixture to the center of the pan and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Redistribute the chicken pieces on top of the rice. Add 4 cups of the warm chicken broth and stir to distribute the rice evenly in the pan, making sure that all rice is completely submerged in liquid. From this point forward do not stir the paella. After 8 to 9 minutes, when all of the liquid is absorbed and the rice appears dry, add an additional 4 cups of broth. Continue to cook without stirring, until the liquid is absorbed, about 8 to 9 minutes. The rice should be firm to the bite and the grains have a tiny white dot in the center. Add the remaining cup of broth as needed, until the rice is cooked through. Watch the fire to make sure it is heating evenly and adjust the pan to prevent uneven cooking.
• Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a tea towel and rest for 15 minutes before serving.

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.

PAELLA

Steps:

• Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Fry hot and mild Italian sausage pieces in the wok until brown on all sides. Remove sausage, and fry the chicken strips in the sausage drippings until browned. Remove chicken and saute onions, green pepper, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• Stir in the uncooked rice, tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, oregano and turmeric. Cook and stir for 1 minute, then mix in the reserved tomato juice and chicken broth. Add chicken pieces, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Add sausage to the mixture, and continue to simmer for 15 minutes, then stir in the shrimp; cover and cook for 5 to 10 more minutes, or until shrimp is cooked through.