Mediterranean Seafood Paella: An Authentic Spanish Recipe

Get ready to transport your taste buds to Spain with the ultimate seafood paella recipe! Made with short-grain rice, saffron, seafood, and vegetables. This traditional Spanish dish is a feast for the senses. Sautéed to perfection, the rice is cooked with broth until the seafood is fully flavorful. To finish it off, it’s garnished with fragrant herbs and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing touch. Follow our step-by-step guide to create the perfect, authentic Mediterranean seafood paella recipe that will leave your guests wanting more!

The Main ingredients For Your Seafood Paella Recipe

• Seafood Delights : Clams, Oysters, Lobster Tails, Prawns: The seafood trio of clams, oysters, and prawns contributes a delightful oceanic essence to the paella. Lobster tails add a touch of luxury and richness to the dish.
• Meatiness with Chicken: Chicken Thighs: Succulent chicken thighs bring their savory flavors to the paella, complementing the seafood medley.
• Aromatic Beginnings: Shallots, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic: Shallots, red bell pepper, and garlic form the aromatic base, infusing the paella with a fragrant and savory foundation.
• Tomato Tang: Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Tomatoes, in both fresh and paste forms, add a delightful tanginess to the paella, balancing the richness of the seafood and meats.
• Vibrant Peas: Peas: Peas not only introduce a vibrant green color but also a sweet, earthy note to the paella.
• Saffron’s Golden Touch: Saffron Threads: Saffron, the crown jewel of spices, imparts a golden hue and a distinct floral, slightly bitter flavor, elevating the paella to a luxurious dish.
• Flavorful Liquid Base: Chicken Broth, White Wine: The combination of chicken broth and white wine forms the flavorful liquid base for the paella, infusing it with depth and complexity.
• Staple Paella Rice: Bomba Rice: Bomba rice, a staple in paella, has a unique ability to absorb the flavors of the dish while maintaining its shape and a slightly nutty taste.
• Piquant Pimento: Ground Pimento: Ground pimento adds a touch of warmth and spiciness to the paella, enhancing its overall flavor profile.

Each ingredient contributes its own distinct character to create a harmonious and delicious Seafood Paella Recipe.

Preparing for Your Seafood Paella Recipe

Before we dive into the savory world of paella, it’s essential to prepare and organize your cooking process. These steps will help ensure your Seafood Paella Recipe turns out as delicious as possible:

• Seafood Preparation: Clean all the seafood, including clams, oysters, prawns, and lobster tails, at once. Once cleaned, keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them. This will save you time and ensure that your seafood is fresh and ready for cooking when needed.
• Chicken Prep: Prepare the chicken by cutting it into small pieces ahead of time. Having your chicken ready to go will streamline the cooking process and make assembling the dish much easier.
• Broth Ready: Prepare the chicken broth and have it ready in advance. Having the broth on hand will allow you to add it to the paella as needed without any delays.
• Measure and Cut: Measure out all your ingredients, from the spices to the vegetables. Cut your vegetables into small pieces, so they’re ready to be added to the skillet without any last-minute chopping.
• Spice Lineup: Lay out all your spices and seasonings, so you can easily access them during the cooking process. This will help you add flavor to the dish seamlessly.

Now that you’re well-prepared and organized, let’s explore some essential paella cooking tips to ensure your dish turns out as delicious as possible:

Essential Cooking Tips

• Use Santo Tomas Bomba Rice for the best results. Avoid washing it to enhance flavor and texture. If unavailable, use any short-grain rice.
• Invest in a traditional paella pan or use a similar cooking vessel for optimal results.
• Rotate the paella pan every five minutes when using three burners to ensure even cooking.
• Cook different types of seafood separately to prevent overcooking, adding them to the rice in the last five minutes for presentation.
• Opt for fresh tomatoes and use a tablespoon of tomato paste to enhance color and flavor.
• Grind saffron with a pestle and sprinkle it over the broth for an exotic depth of flavor.
• Consider using dry pimento for sweet and aromatic notes instead of paprika.
• Prepare individual components separately before combining them into the final dish.

The Perfect Wine Pairing

Some dishes beg for a perfectly paired glass of wine. And for me, one of those dishes is undoubtedly a delicious seafood paella recipe. While I’m not a big drinker, certain meals don’t feel complete without a glass of wine, and this Mediterranean seafood paella is one of them.

Combining succulent shrimp, juicy chicken, tender lobster, and briny clams and oysters with aromatic rice and vegetables creates a harmonious and satisfying dish. To bring out the flavors of this mouthwatering dish, I recommend pairing it with a crisp and refreshing Albariño, a white wine from the northwestern region of Spain. The wine’s bright acidity and citrus notes complement the flavors of the seafood and rice. I am creating a perfect harmony of flavors with every bite. Don’t miss out on this ideal pairing and savor the taste of the Mediterranean with every mouthwatering bite of our seafood paella!

More Mediterranean-inspired dishes?

Be sure to check out more of our other Mediterranean recipes; here are just a few to get you started: Mediterranean Shrimp Recipe – with Spicy Harissa Tomato Sauce, Maltese Ricotta and Peas Pie Recipe, Authentic Croatian Fish Stew Brodet Recipe, and many more.