Parsley Paella With Peppered Shrimp String Beans And Snails Recipes

PAELLA WITH SHRIMP AND FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp. Reserve shells.
• Make the shrimp broth: in a medium-size pot put the shrimp shells, sliced onion, sliced garlic, bay leaf, thyme sprig and 1 teaspoon salt. Add 7 cups water and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes, then strain. Taste and adjust for salt; the broth needs to be well seasoned. Yield should be about 5 cups. Reheat just before using.
• Rinse the shrimp briefly in a bowl of cool lightly salted water, blot the shrimp with paper towels and put in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon pimentón, and a little salt. Mix well to coat with seasonings and let marinate at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a 14-inch paella pan, earthenware cazuela or cast-iron skillet, add 5 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp in one layer and cook very briefly, about 30 seconds per side. Remove shrimp and set aside. Add the diced onion and chorizo to the pan along with a pinch of salt. Let the mixture cook in the oil, stirring frequently, until well softened and barely colored, about 15 minutes. Add the saffron and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pimentón and cook for a few minutes more.
• Add the rice and raise the heat to medium high. Stir well to coat with the onion mixture. Add the fava beans and season with salt and pepper. Add 4 1/2 cups hot shrimp broth and bring to a brisk simmer, stirring once or twice only to distribute the fava beans. Taste broth and adjust seasoning if necessary. Simmer, uncovered, until most of the broth has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and arrange the par-cooked shrimp over the surface in one layer.
• Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cover with a clean dish cloth. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with homemade garlic mayonnaise or aioli if desired.

A MODERN VERSION OF AN ANCIENT PAELLA: SAFFRON RICE WITH CHICKEN, SHRIMP, STRINGBEANS, AND SNAILS

Steps:

• Butterfly each shrimp by cutting along the back, through the shell, to remove the black vein. Rinse, then spread each shrimp wide open, leaving the shell on. Sprinkle with salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Set aside for 1/2 hour. In a large, heavy pan, with a tight-fitting lid - preferably a large wok - heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper, then add them to the hot oil, skin-side down. Cook for 2 minutes, or until the skin just begins to brown. Add the chorizo slices, and toss them with the chicken. Cook for 1 minute. Add the shallots, garlic and string beans. Mix well. Add the rice and half of the parsley, stirring to coat the rice thoroughly with oil. Add the chicken stock, saffron and paprika. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Lift the cover, embed the shrimp in the top part of the rice, then scatter the snails around the shrimp. If you are using the red pepper, cut it into 8 strips and arrange it in the rice in a decorative pattern. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes more, or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is just cooked. Serve at the table out of the cooking vessel, sprinkling the portions with the remaining parsley.

PAELLA WITH ASPARAGUS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, and drain again.
• Bring 4 1/2 cups broth to simmer in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add reserved shrimp shells; simmer 10 minutes. Bring wine to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat; add saffron and set aside 5 minutes to steep. Strain saffron-infused wine into 8-cup measuring cup. Strain in shrimp broth. Add enough chicken broth to measure 5 cups broth mixture.
• Heat oil in large wide pot (at least 3 inches deep) over medium-high heat. Add chorizo and sauté until lightly browned, breaking into 1/2-inch pieces with side of spoon, about 5 minutes. Add onions. Reduce heat to medium and sauté until onions are slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir 2 minutes. Add tomato and peppers. Sauté until tomato is soft and juices evaporate, about 3 minutes. Mix in paprika and salt, then rice. (Asparagus, broth mixture, and rice mixture can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let each stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Add broth mixture to rice mixture and bring to boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and simmer 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pot from heat. Scatter shrimp over. Tuck clams and mussels into rice mixture, hinged side down. Place pot in oven and bake paella, uncovered, 15 minutes. Sprinkle peas and asparagus over. Continue to bake until broth is absorbed, rice is tender, and clams and mussels open, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer pot to work surface. Cover with foil; let stand 5 minutes.
• Transfer paella to large shallow dish. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.