Mediterranean Seafood Paella: An Authentic Spanish Recipe

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Mediterranean Seafood Paella: An Authentic Spanish Recipe

This dish holds a special place in my heart, and it’s not just reserved for special occasions. With its fantastic flavors and textures, paella has become a favorite in my kitchen, whether I’m celebrating a special event or simply craving a weeknight delight.

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.

How to Make Mediterranean Seafood Paella: An Authentic Spanish Recipe

Preparation

1.
Clams and Oysters:
Scrub and clean the clams and oysters thoroughly to remove any dirt or shells.
In a medium-sized stockpot, combine water, white wine, and lemon slices.
Add the clams and oysters to the pot, bring to a boil, and cook until they open. Remove from heat and set aside.
Mark as complete
2.
Prawns:
Wash and pat dry the prawns.
Sprinkle them with pimento.
Heat a skillet over high heat, drizzle with olive oil, and add the prawns.
Cook until the prawns turn pink on all sides (about 6-8 minutes).
Season with salt and drizzle with lemon juice. Set them aside in a bowl.
Mark as complete
3.
Wash the lobster tails and pat them dry.
Cut through the middle lengthwise, keeping them intact with the shell.
Sprinkle with pimento.
In the same skillet, melt unsalted butter and place the lobster tail flesh side down.
Cook for 4 minutes, flip them over, drizzle with lemon juice, and remove them from the skillet. Set them aside.
Mark as complete
4.
Chicken:
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, and sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pimento.
Brown the chicken on each side for about 5 minutes. Set them aside.
Mark as complete
5.
Rice:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add diced shallots and cook for 5 minutes until soft.
Add red bell pepper and sauté for another 3 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Mix in minced garlic, ground pimento, and tomato paste.
Mark as complete
6.
Add peas, followed by the chicken broth-water mixture. Mix well and add vinegar.
Sprinkle saffron threads and season with salt and pepper.
Add the rice and mix once, spreading it evenly.
.
Mark as complete
7.
Bring to a boil, arrange chicken pieces, and reduce the heat to medium simmer.
Cook for about 20 minutes until the rice is almost tender.
Mark as complete
8.
Arrange clams, oysters, shrimp, and lobster tails around.
Cook for another 10 minutes until the edges and the bottom become slightly crispy.
Mark as complete
9.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.
Serve your paella directly from the pot and enjoy with a glass of white wine!
Mark as complete

Ingredients:

1X 2X 3X
Adjust Servings
2 tablespoons tablespoons olive oil
2 smalls shallots, diced
1 red bell pepper, cut into small pieces
2 medium-sized tomatoes, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground pimento
1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups green peas
4 cups of chicken broth mixed with 4 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon crushed saffron threads
Salt and pepper to season
2 cups Bomba rice
Chopped parsley and lemon wedges for garnish
For Clams and Oysters:
8 pieces of clams
8 pieces of oyster
1 quart of water
1/2 cup white wine
2 slices of lemon
For Lobster Tails:
4 small lobster tails
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon pimento
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
A pinch of salt
For Chicken:
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 boneless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pimento
For Prawns:
1/2 lb giant prawns (about 10-12 pieces, shell-on)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon pimento
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
A pinch of salt

Preparation

1
Clams and Oysters: Scrub and clean the clams and oysters thoroughly to remove any dirt or shells. In a medium-sized stockpot, combine water, white wine, and lemon slices. Add the clams and oysters to the pot, bring to a boil, and cook until they open. Remove from heat and set aside.
2
Prawns: Wash and pat dry the prawns. Sprinkle them with pimento. Heat a skillet over high heat, drizzle with olive oil, and add the prawns. Cook until the prawns turn pink on all sides (about 6-8 minutes). Season with salt and drizzle with lemon juice. Set them aside in a bowl.
3
Wash the lobster tails and pat them dry. Cut through the middle lengthwise, keeping them intact with the shell. Sprinkle with pimento. In the same skillet, melt unsalted butter and place the lobster tail flesh side down. Cook for 4 minutes, flip them over, drizzle with lemon juice, and remove them from the skillet. Set them aside.
4
Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, and sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pimento. Brown the chicken on each side for about 5 minutes. Set them aside.
5
Rice: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced shallots and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Add red bell pepper and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Mix in minced garlic, ground pimento, and tomato paste.
6
Add peas, followed by the chicken broth-water mixture. Mix well and add vinegar. Sprinkle saffron threads and season with salt and pepper. Add the rice and mix once, spreading it evenly. .
7
Bring to a boil, arrange chicken pieces, and reduce the heat to medium simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes until the rice is almost tender.
8
Arrange clams, oysters, shrimp, and lobster tails around. Cook for another 10 minutes until the edges and the bottom become slightly crispy.
9
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve your paella directly from the pot and enjoy with a glass of white wine!

Rana’s Notes!

how to store and reheat leftovers: Properly storing leftovers is essential to maintain their freshness and prevent food borne illnesses. Once cooled, store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. To reheat, remove the portion you need from the container and transfer it to a microwave-safe dish. Cover the dish with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap to prevent the food from drying out. Microwave on high, stirring occasionally until the food is heated through, or place the dish in a preheated oven until heated thoroughly. Avoid reheating the same dish multiple times and always check the internal temperature of the food to ensure it reaches 165°F before eating.

Nutrition Information

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
See our full nutrition disclosure here.

rana

By Rana

Thanks for visiting my Mediterranean food blog and welcome to my virtual kitchen! Here, you’ll find mouth-watering, wholesome, and nutritious Mediterranean recipes that will change the way you view cooking.

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