Smoky Chorizo and Shrimp Paella 🥘✨

 New Recipe: Smoky Chorizo and Shrimp Paella 🥘✨

Ingredients:

• For the base:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup Arborio or Bomba rice

• For the broth:

  • 4 cups chicken or seafood stock, warmed
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp saffron threads, steeped in 2 tbsp warm water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

• For the toppings:

  • 150g Spanish chorizo, sliced
  • 200g large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 cup fresh peas or green beans
  • ½ cup roasted red peppers, sliced

• For garnish:

  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Lemon wedges

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Instructions:

1. Prepare the base:

   • Heat olive oil in a large, shallow skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Stir in garlic, red bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes, cooking until softened.

2. Toast the rice:

   • Add the rice to the pan, stirring to coat in the aromatic mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the rice is slightly translucent.

3. Add the broth:

   • Stir in smoked paprika, saffron water, and warm stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

4. Cook the paella:

   • Let the rice cook undisturbed over low heat for 15 minutes. Do not stir; this helps create the crispy layer at the bottom (socarrat).

5. Add the toppings:

   • Scatter chorizo, shrimp, peas (or green beans), and roasted red peppers over the rice. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, and the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.

6. Create the socarrat:

   • Turn the heat to high for 1-2 minutes to develop a crispy layer at the bottom. Be careful not to burn it.

7. Rest and serve:

   • Remove the pan from heat and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let the paella rest for 5 minutes.

8. Garnish and serve:

   • Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side for a bright, zesty finish.

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Optional Variations:

• Add mussels, clams, or squid for a seafood-rich version.
• Substitute chorizo with chicken or omit for a vegetarian option (use vegetable broth).
• Use smoked tofu or jackfruit for a plant-based twist.