A Modern Version Of An Ancient Paella Saffron Rice With Chicken Shrimp Stringbeans And Snails Recipes

Steps:

• Butterfly each shrimp by cutting along the back, through the shell, to remove the black vein. Rinse, then spread each shrimp wide open, leaving the shell on. Sprinkle with salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Set aside for 1/2 hour. In a large, heavy pan, with a tight-fitting lid - preferably a large wok - heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper, then add them to the hot oil, skin-side down. Cook for 2 minutes, or until the skin just begins to brown. Add the chorizo slices, and toss them with the chicken. Cook for 1 minute. Add the shallots, garlic and string beans. Mix well. Add the rice and half of the parsley, stirring to coat the rice thoroughly with oil. Add the chicken stock, saffron and paprika. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Lift the cover, embed the shrimp in the top part of the rice, then scatter the snails around the shrimp. If you are using the red pepper, cut it into 8 strips and arrange it in the rice in a decorative pattern. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes more, or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is just cooked. Serve at the table out of the cooking vessel, sprinkling the portions with the remaining parsley.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.
• Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

Steps:

• In a mortar or food processor, grind parsley, almonds and garlic to a paste. Set aside. Place stock in saucepan, add saffron, bring to simmer and remove from heat.
• Heat oil in 17-inch paella pan, on two burners if necessary, or in two 13-inch pans. Add chorizo and saute until heated through. Remove from pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper, place in pan and saute until nicely browned, leaving legs and thighs in pan a little longer than breast pieces. Remove chicken. Lower heat. Saute onion and leek until soft but not brown.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add red and yellow peppers to paella pan. When soft, add tomatoes and wine. When most of the liquid has evaporated, add paprika and rice and stir to coat. Add stock mixture and stir. Simmer 5 minutes.
• Fold in parsley mixture, beans and chorizo. Add chicken and simmer another 5 minutes. Arrange shrimp on top. Place in oven about 15 minutes, until chicken and rice are cooked.
• Remove from oven, cover loosely with foil and set aside 10 minutes. Garnish with olives and serve.