Chicken Paella

Due to the exams I haven't been updating my blog as much as I could have, but don't worry I have been eating =). So after a full day of studying I thought I deserved a break, and with that my sister and I made dinner.

We wanted something warm, cosy and easy to make and to that she found a recipe for Chicken Paella. Paella is a traditional Spanish dish which is a great comfort food, and everything is cooked and served in one big pan, which means less cleaning up! =D

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 200g chorizo sausages, sliced
• 1 large brown onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1.4kg chicken pieces, trimmed
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 
  

Method:

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a paella pan or a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chorizo and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel.

2. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, onion and garlic to pan. Cook for 2 minutes or until soft.

3. Add chicken. Cook, turning often, for 5 to 6 minutes or until golden.

4. Add wine and 1/2 cup stock. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, turning occasionally, over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until almost all liquid has evaporated.

5. Add rice, tomatoes, paprika and 1 1/2 cups stock. Return to simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent mixture from catching on bottom of pan, for 15 minutes or until almost all liquid is absorbed.

6. Add peas, chorizo and remaining 1/2 cup stock. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes or until stock is just absorbed.

7. Season with salt and pepper. Serve paella at the table from the pan. You can further add a drizzle of lemon.

This is the first time we made this dish and it turned out great. Everyone loved it, and was very fulfilling. Perfect on cold nights.


Good food, good times!