I wanted to share the two paella recipes I'll be cooking for this Sunday's "Paella Pairing" event at my place.  Anyone who wants to come early and help is more than welcome.

Chuck

GRILLED VEGETABLE PAELLA

Olive oil to cook
4 cups basmati rice
5 minced large shallots
1 tablespoon garlic
1 heaping tablespoon minced ginger
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 tablespoon turmeric
6 cups vegetable stock
4 cups mixed grilled vegetables, 1/2-inch dice (1 zucchini, 1 eggplant, 1 red bell pepper, 1 large red onion, 1 fennel, 1/4-inch thick sliced and grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper)

 
 In a hot oven-proof skillet coated with olive oil, saute rice, shallots, garlic and ginger for 4 to 6 minutes. Season. Add turmeric and stir for 2 minutes. Add stock and vegetables and check for seasoning. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until rice has fully absorbed the broth. Fluff with a fork, re-check seasoning. 
 

Spice Mix for chicken, recipe follows
1 (3-pound) frying chicken, cut into 10 pieces
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Spanish chorizo sausages, thickly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 Spanish onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
Bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, reserve some for garnish
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and hand-crushed
4 cups short grain Spanish rice
6 cups water, warm
Generous pinch saffron threads
1 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2 lobster tails
1/2 cup sweet peas, frozen and thawed
Lemon wedges, for serving
Special equipment:
Large paella pan or wide shallow skillet
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.
Cook's note: The ideal paella has a toasted rice bottom called socarrat.
Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.
Spice Mix for chicken:
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken; marinate for 1 hour, covered

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 CLASSIC PAELLA