Looking down, you'll see an enticing pan of paella with a field of golden rice, speckled with colorful red bell peppers, green peas, black mussels, and wedges of lemon. Shiny pink shrimp and chicken pieces peek through, glistening under the soft glow of saffron. It's a beautiful riot of colors, textures and aromas.

Spanish National Day Fiesta Paella

Name: Spanish National Day Fiesta Paella
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: saffron threads, 1 pinch soaked in 2 tablespoons of warm water; Bomba or Arborio rice, 2 cups uncooked; chicken thighs, 4 bone-in, skin-on; jumbo shrimp, 8 peeled and deveined; mussels, 12 scrubbed and debearded; green peas, 1 cup fresh or frozen; red bell pepper, 1 sliced into thin strips; lemon, 1 cut into wedges; olive oil, 4 tablespoons; garlic, 4 cloves minced; onion, 1 finely chopped; chicken broth, 4 cups; white wine, 1/2 cup; paprika, 1 teaspoon; salt and pepper, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 50 minutes

Style Spanish

Technique Pan Cooking

Diet Friendly Mediterranean

Daily Recipe: October 12, 2024

In honor of Spanish National Day, we are spotlighting a classic Spanish paella – a hearty, colorful centerpiece dish that's as flavorful as it is beautiful. Its key ingredients are saffron - a luxurious spice - and Bomba rice, renowned for absorbing flavors well.

Ingredients (for 4)

Saffron threads - 1 pinch - soaked in 2 tablespoons of warm water
Bomba or arborio rice - 2 cups - uncooked
Chicken thighs - 4 - bone-in, skin-on
Jumbo shrimp - 8 - peeled and deveined
Mussels - 12 - scrubbed and debearded
Green peas - 1 cup - fresh or frozen
Red bell pepper - 1 - sliced into thin strips
Lemon - 1 - cut into wedges
Olive oil - 4 tablespoons
Garlic - 4 cloves - minced
Onion - 1 - finely chopped
Chicken broth - 4 cups
White wine - 1/2 cup
Paprika - 1 teaspoon
Salt and pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍗🧂🌶

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, paprika, and minced garlic. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.
Step 2 - 🍳🔥🍗

Heat oil in a paella pan over medium heat. Add chicken and brown each side, then remove it from the pan.
Step 3 - 😀🧅🍚

Using the same pan, add finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until they become translucent.
Step 4 - 🍚🧅💦

Add uncooked rice to the pan, mixing it well with the onion and garlic. Pour in the saffron threads soaked in warm water and stir well.
Step 5 - 🥘🍗⏲

Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a boil. Add the chicken back to the pan and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 6 - 🍤🥬🥘

Nestle the shrimp, mussels, peas, and bell pepper in the rice. Pour in the white wine.
Step 7 - 🔥🐚🍽

Cover and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until mussels open, shrimp turns pink, and rice absorbs most of the liquid. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve hot directly from the pan.

Additional

Paella is a Valencian dish that symbolizes the unity and heritage of Spain. Make it your own by substituting or adding different proteins like chorizo, rabbit, or squid. Kids can help with cleaning and prepping the shellfish and garnishing the dish. Always serve paella directly from the pan to maintain its rustic charm.