Party Time Seafood Paella Recipe (2024)

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  1. How to Make a Party-WorthySeafood Paella Recipe
  2. Kitchen Favorites
  3. Every Day Can’t Be a Party. Looking for Easy Every Night Dinner Recipes?

If you are planning a party this holiday season and not quite sure what to make, you can’t go wrong with a festive one-dish wonder Seafood Paella Recipe.Unless of course your party-goers are allergic to seafood (frown).But assuming seafood is on the “safe to serve” list, this is a seafood situationthat could quite possibly make you the most popular hostess on the block.Especially if you serve it along with homemade Sangria.Trust me, a great Paella and sangria will make a party.Now, ifyou Google “Seafood Paella Recipe“, you’ll find variations galore of this wildly popular and impressive classic Spanish dish. Like lasagna, every Paella has it’s own distinctive personality. And as with Texas chili, there are even Seafood Paella Recipe contests. In other words, people take their Paella very seriously.The ingredients, and even the cooking technique, vary from paella to paella, but some things always remain the same:

  1. Using short-grain brown rice (I prefer sprouted whole grain brown rice for both flavor and nutrition). It is important to use short grain rice because it absorbs the most flavor.
  2. Using a flavorful broth (homemade fish stock is always the hands down winner, but if you don’t have the time or inclination to go that route you can always use a mixture of a high quality prepared fish broth mixed with organic chicken broth.)
  3. Saffron. There’s a reason saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. And when it comes to paella, you simply cannot omit the saffron.
  4. Cooking the rice perfectly. This last bit is the trickiest because stove tops and ovens will vary, so you just have to keep your eye on the rice and be willing to adjust the temperature or cooking time down or up and add more liquid if necessary. Cooking the rice is not rocket science, but it does require a little attention.

Party Time Seafood Paella Recipe (3)

How to Make a Party-WorthySeafood Paella Recipe

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Seafood Paella Recipe

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Party Time Seafood Paella Recipe (24)

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups fish broth (either homemade or Bar Harbor Fish Stock brand)
  • 3 cups organic chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup buttery Chardonnay (such as Kendall Jackson)
  • 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
  • 2 pastured chicken thighs (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
  • Unrefined sea salt (to taste)
  • Smoked paprika (to taste)
  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided)
  • 1/2 pound squid (cleaned and cut into rings)
  • 1 pound large raw shrimp (shelled and deveined with tails left on)
  • 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
  • 5 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
  • 1 large onion (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper (finely chopped)
  • 2 cups short grain sprouted brown rice (such as Lundberg brand)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 pound grape tomatoes (sliced in half lengthwise)
  • 12 littleneck clams (well scrubbed)
  • 1 pound mussels (well scrubbed and debearded)
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen petite peas
  • 3/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers (drained, patted dry and cut into thin strips)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Add the fish, chicken broth, Chardonnay and saffron threads to a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
  3. Season the chicken with salt and paprika. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a very large skillet over medium-heat. Add the chicken and brown on both sides until golden. Remove the chicken from the skillet, cover to keep juicy and set aside.
  4. Season the squid and shrimp with salt and paprika. Heat another tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-heat. Add the squid and shrimp to the skillet and sear about 1-minute per side. Transfer the squid and shrimp to the same platter with the chicken, cover and set aside.
  5. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and anchovy paste to the skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, crushed red pepper and yellow pepper and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft but not brown. Add the rice and cook until opaque and slightly golden, stirring with a wooden spoon. Season rice with salt to taste. Stir in the cumin. Add the simmering broth and stir to loosen any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir in the tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Add the clams and mussels to the skillet, tucking them under the rice, but keep the opening edges facing up. Cook, undisturbed for 10 minutes. Add the chicken, shrimp and squid to the skillet and tuck under the rice as best you can. Gently fold in the frozen peas and roasted red pepper strips. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
  7. Remove paella from oven. Cover again with foil and let sit another 10 minutes (the rice will continue to cook and absorb liquid as it sets.) Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

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©2024 clean cuisine Recipe by: Author Ivy Larson

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Party Time Seafood Paella Recipe (26)

Ivy Larson

In 2010, Clean Cuisine was launched because Ivy Larson wanted to share her anti-inflammatory lifestyle and delicious recipes using ingredients in their most natural and nutrient-rich state. In 2020, Ivy passed the website to Aimee and Madison. Since then, they have been adding new recipes and nutrition posts while updating old recipes and articles. Thanks for visiting Clean Cuisine!

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Party Time Seafood Paella Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in paella? ›

Sofrito. Sofrito is a flavorful mixture of onions, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers that is used as a base for many Spanish and Latin American dishes, including paella. It's often called the "secret ingredient" in paella, as it adds a depth of flavor and richness to the dish.

What is the secret of a good paella? ›

Truly great paella also relies on a flavoursome stock, which you can make yourself using prawn heads, parsley, wine, saffron and cooking juices from the mussels. Traditionally, paella is cooked over an open fire which infuses the paella with an aromatic smoke.

What are the 10 essential ingredients for paella? ›

The ten permitted ingredients are: rice, water, olive oil, salt, saffron (or food colouring), tomato, flat green beans, lima beans, chicken and rabbit. No fish or shellfish.

How much rice per person for paella? ›

Perfect Paella Proportions

The average proportion of rice to broth for paella is approximately 1 part rice to 3.5 parts liquid and we would suggest that you use 80-100 grams of rice per person (that's about ½ cup uncooked rice).

What is the most important spice in paella? ›

Saffron is the most precious spice in the world and also a star ingredient in most paella dishes. Make the most of your paella night by using a high quality saffron.

What is the most important ingredient in paella? ›

Because paella is truly all about the rice, the rice is the most important ingredient. Bomba rice, from Spain, is the best choice. It absorbs 3 times as much liquid than regular rice giving it 3 times as much flavor when all the liquid is absorbed. Plus cooked right, it stays firm and al dente.

What is the best broth for paella? ›

Water is actually the most-often-used liquid in “authentic” paella, but stock is in many cases better. Chicken stock is all-purpose, and a not-too-strong meat stock will work nicely, too. Fish stock is fine as long as you're including fish, and a quickly made shrimp-shell stock might be your best alternative.

Why do you not put onions in paella? ›

That's because the vast majority of Valencians agree that onions do not go into a Valencian paella. Valencians say onions make the rice go soft.

How do I add flavor to paella? ›

Spanish saffron

If you're after authenticity in a seafood paella then you have to add saffron for colour and flavour. Spanish saffron should be bought as strands, not powdered, and it needs to be steeped in liquid so it's evenly distributed. Yes, it's an expensive spice but a little goes a long way.

What not to put in paella? ›

What Can You Not Put in Paella? Real paella does not include many ingredients that go into other rice dishes. Some of these include onions, peas, mushrooms, carrots, and chorizo. While all good combinations with rice, these aren't part of the traditional paella recipes.

What is the best rice for paella? ›

Bomba is the best rice for paella. It's not only authentic to the dish, but the results are almost always perfect. Calasparra rice is an excellent substitute if you can't get your hands on bomba rice. Arborio Rice can work if you can't get bomba or Calasparra.

Is jasmine rice ok for paella? ›

What Kind Of Rice Do You Use To Make Paella? We love using medium grain or jasmine rice. You can also use Spanish rice if you can find it. The short, round grains are perfect for Paella and absorb liquid really well, which makes it the ideal rice for Paella.

What to eat with paella? ›

Another good dishes to serve with paella are tomato bread, Spanish green salad, patatas bravas, green beans, fried rice, gazpacho, roasted red peppers, garlic shrimp, Spanish omelette, marinated olives, grilled artichokes, and sautéed spinach with garlic.

Can I use basmati rice for paella? ›

Basmati is a long grain rice and basically never used in paella.

Why is there no chorizo in paella? ›

Does paella need to have chorizo? No, paella doesn't need to have chorizo; Most Spanish cooks would not put chorizo in paella, the sausage's strong taste being considered as overwhelming the delicate saffron flavor of the rice. Paella normally has only one kind of meat (chicken or rabbit are often used).

What can you not put in paella? ›

What Can You Not Put in Paella? Real paella does not include many ingredients that go into other rice dishes. Some of these include onions, peas, mushrooms, carrots, and chorizo. While all good combinations with rice, these aren't part of the traditional paella recipes.

What is the main spice used as seasoning and coloring agent in paella? ›

You also don't want to omit the saffron. It is used as a seasoning and coloring agent in paella and other foods.

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