Recipe provided by Chef Crusco Catering in Austin, TX
Ingredients
- 8 Boneless Chicken Thighs – excess fat removed
- 4 Tbsps. – EVOO
- Coarse Salt & Pepper
- 1 tbsp. Pimenton – Spanish smoked Paprika
- 1 Link Spanish Chorizo Embutido (cured Spanish Pork) – sliced ¼ inch thin (buy at Central Market)
- 1 Red onion – minced
- 1 Green Pepper – minced
- 5 Roma Tomatoes – minced
- 3 garlic cloves – minced
- 2 cups Bomba Rice – short grain Paella rice
- 1 package Saffron – bloomed in 1/2 cup H2O, stock or vino (meaning put in liquid for 20 minutes)
- 7.5 cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
- 1/2 cup Frozen Green Peas
Directions
- Bloom the saffron in your choice of liquid – white wine is the best!
- Place EVOO in a Paella pan on med-high heat. Season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper and pimenton. Place chicken (skin side down) in pan and cook until golden in color. Turnover and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sear the Chorizo slices 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the onions, peppers and tomato to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook 8-10 minutes. At the end, add the garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes more.
- Add rice & mix around so it gets covered in all the fat & vegetables. Add saffron, liquid it bloomed in and incorporate throughout the pan (if alcohol cook an extra few minutes to cook out the alcohol).
- Add the stock and move around so it settles throughout the pan. At this point, taste the liquid and adjust with salt/pepper if needed.
- Once it starts to simmer, reduce heat to med-low and add both the chicken and chorizo back into the paella pan. Cook gently for 12-18 minutes or until the rice starts to soften. Do NOT mix around.
- Once the rice is cooked through, add the frozen peas, turn the heat off and cover the pan in foil to rest for 10 minutes.
- When ready to serve, remove the foil and place the pan in the middle of the table so everyone can serve themselves communal/family style. Serve with some delicious crusty bread, Spanish wine and enjoy!