Mini Paella Recipes

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.

SPANISH PAELLA RECIPE

Steps:

• Mince the onion. Mince the garlic. Finely chop the tomatoes, removing the cores but keeping the seeds with their juices.
• Measure out all the remaining ingredients before you start. The cooking process goes fast!
• Dry the shrimp and add it to a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. In your largest skillet or a 4-serving paella pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and saute until it is just barely opaque, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp and set it aside.
• In the same pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until just translucent, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the chopped tomatoes, the remaining 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and red pepper flakes, and cook until the tomatoes have broken down and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in the stock, saffron and 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Sprinkle the rice evenly across the broth and tap the pan with a spoon to evenly spread the rice. Bring to a medium simmer and cook without stirring until liquid is absorbed, about 18 to 22 minutes (adjust the cook time as necessary if using a skillet).
• If your pan is large enough to span multiple burners on your stovetop, adjust the heat on each burner so you achieve a steady medium simmer. Rotate the pan every few minutes for an even cook.
• When the top of the rice is beginning to show through the liquid (about 10 minutes into the cook time), press the artichokes and peas lightly into the rice. Add the strips of red pepper over the top.
• In last few minutes, carefully watch the paella and rotate pan more frequently. As the paella finishes, you'll see the steam start to slow down as the water cooks out. If desired, peek at the bottom of a pan by using a knife to scrape back the rice - you shouldn't see any standing water. The sound will start to change from a simmer to a crackle. This indicates the crust is forming. Let the crackling continue for about 2 minutes before removing from the heat. If you smell any burning, remove immediately.
• When the paella is done, add the shrimp to top of paella and squeeze the lemon wedges onto the top of the pan. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of kosher salt and add the parsley, if using. Serve with additional lemon wedges.

PAELLA

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the onions and cubanelle and bell peppers to break them down. Pulse in the jalapeño and garlic, then add the cilantro and puree into a coarse mixture. Set the sofrito aside.
• In two 10-inch paella pans (you can also use a large paella pan, if you like), heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and sear on both sides until three-quarters of the way cooked, 3 to 4 minutes total, then transfer to a plate. Add the sausage and cook, turning once, until the casings are crispy, then transfer to a plate. Add the reserved sofrito, the grated tomatoes and a good pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until any liquid has evaporated and the sofrito begins caramelize.
• Stir in the tomato paste, then add the rice and toast briefly. Deglaze the pan with the wine. Add the cumin, paprika and reserved sausage, then slowly add half of the stock and stir until the liquid comes to a simmer. Repeat with the remaining stock, then let the paella cook, undisturbed, until the rice is tender or until the liquid is almost gone, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove the shells from the shrimp, leaving the heads intact. When the rice is tender, scatter the shrimp over the top and cook until the liquid has evaporated and the rice is crisp on the bottom, about 5 minutes more. Drizzle with olive oil, top with cilantro and serve.

MINI PAELLA

Steps:

• Pour a little clarified butter into a heat-proof casserole over moderate heat. Add the onions into the hot butter and fry until opaque. Add the rice. Wrap the 6 mussels in aluminum foil and place on top of the rice. Cover and let cook for 60 seconds. Pour the white wine over the rice and stir. The mussels will be opening up after 2 minutes. Remove the foil wrapped mussels and set aside. To the rice, add the chicken, ham and the shrimps. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the casserole in a preheated 450 degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and moisten with 1/8 cup dry white wine and decorate with mussels. Sprinkle with lemon juice and garnish with chopped parsley.

SMALL BATCH PAELLA

Steps:

• Boil together the broth, saffron and the broth it steeped in, tomato, paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper. Heat oil in the paella pan or cast iron 12 inch frying pan. Add garlic and onion and cook until soft, then remove.
• Brown chicken, adding oil as needed, until about 75% done, then remove.Scrape bottom of pan, add more oil, add rice, and cook until translucent. Add boiling broth, cook at medium for 5 minutes. DO NOT STIR.
• Reduce heat, arrange chicken, red pepper, mussels, chorizo, and any optional ingredients, and cook 15 minutes. Cover, continue cooking on very low, about 5 more minutes. You may need to move the pan around so heat is even; you want the water to be absorbed and the bottom to begin to get crusty.
• Let stand about 5 minutes, discard shellfish that do not open.

PAELLA ARANCINI BITES

Steps:

• With wet hands divide and shape the paella into 12 balls. If the paella is too loose, mix in a few tbsp breadcrumbs until it's thick enough to roll.
• Roll each ball in flour, dust off the excess, then dip in egg. Mix the breadcrumbs with the paprika and roll the balls in the crumbs, until well coated. Chill until you're ready to fry and serve, or for at least 30 mins to allow the rice balls to firm up.
• Fill a deep saucepan 3/4 full with oil. Bring up to 180C, or hot enough to brown a chunk of bread in 40 secs. Use a slotted spoon to carefully lower the arancini into the hot oil and cook for 3-4 mins until golden brown, then drain on kitchen paper. Don't overcrowd the pan or the temperature of the oil will drop.
• To serve, skewer each arancini with a folded slice of chorizo and an olive.

EASY PAELLA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the onion and soften for 5 mins.
• Add the smoked paprika, thyme and paella rice, stir for 1 min, then splash in the sherry, if using. Once evaporated, stir in the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock.
• Season and cook, uncovered, for about 15 mins, stirring now and again until the rice is almost tender and still surrounded with some liquid.
• Stir in the seafood mix and cover with a lid. Simmer for 5 mins, or until the seafood is cooked through and the rice is tender. Squeeze over the lemon juice, scatter over the parsley and serve with the lemon wedges.