If you're looking for a flavorful and satisfying meal, you can't go wrong with paella. This Spanish dish is made with rice that's cooked with saffron, chicken broth, and a variety of seafood like shrimp, mussels, and calamari. To add even more flavor and nutrition, we'll also be including some colorful vegetables like bell pepper and onion.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup short-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded
- 1/2 pound calamari, cleaned and sliced into rings
- 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Start by heating the chicken broth in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the saffron and let it steep for about 10 minutes.
In a large skillet or paella pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
Add the rice to the pan and stir to coat it with the oil and vegetables. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the rice starts to look slightly translucent. Pour in the chicken broth and saffron mixture and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Cook for about 15 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
Add the seafood to the pan and stir to combine. Cover the pan and cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the shrimp are pink, the mussels have opened, and the calamari is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Paella is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit your tastes. You can add other seafood like clams or scallops, or substitute chicken or chorizo for the seafood. The possibilities are endless!