This is a dish I have always wanted to try. It tastes just as refreshing as it looks and it is loaded with succulent flavors of white wine infused mussels and clams, grilled shrimp and fresh crab-meat. Seafood Paella is a favorite international dish of the Spanish Cuisine and one that this southern family is now in love with. Think a lighter and fresh version of your typical jambalaya. There are a million different versions of this classic dish but being the seafood lovers that we are I opted for a paella loaded down with fresh seafood.
When I first researched paella, I have to tell you I was a bit overwhelmed by all the steps but as in typical Belleicious fashion I decided that I didn’t have to follow the steps exactly, I would take the flavors accustomed with your typical paella dish but with my own set of instructions. For example, most recipes have you cooking paella for what seems like days and separating each of the different components into their own step by step cooking method. I am all for quick and easy so I used my jambalaya cooking method with the ingredients of a seafood paella. Have I lost you yet? You will see what I mean later down below!
I love the replacement of the seafood over chicken or meat. It gives the dish a lighter feel and in my opinion enhances the flavors of the saffron and other ingredients of the dish by not masking the taste by the heaviness of the meat. Mussels and clams steamed in a white wine sauce with a touch of lemon, shrimp grilled in lemon and a pinch of turmeric pair ver
y nicely with the fresh lump crab-meat and woodsy and honey-flavor of the saffron rice. For an fun touch I added a package of frozen sweet peas for more color and a sweet taste.
This dish is like hitting the jackpot or finding a pot of gold at the end of the culinary rainbow. It leaves you with a feeling of excitement and anticipation with each new bite. I started this dish off with reckless abandonment and in the end I left with a full sense of satisfaction. After a long hard week there is nothing better to me than a delicious and amazing meal like this Saffron Seafood Paella!
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Saffron Seafood Paella
Ingredients:
2 cups Valencia Rice
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp saffron threads
1 tsp salt and pepper each
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp paprika
1 TSBP each of freshly chopped basil and parsley
4 cups seafood stock
3/4 cup white wine
1 pound of fresh lump crab meat
1 pound fresh shrimp (15-15 count)
1/4 pound of mussels
1/4 pound clams
2 lemons, juiced and zested
1/2 cup olive oil
1 package of frozen peas
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large dutch oven. Saute the onions and bell peppers for 3-4 minutes then add in the chopped garlic. Cook for another 2-3 minutes and then add in the rice, seafood stock, 1/4 cup white wine and all of the seasonings, not including the herbs. Bring the pot to a boil. Cover the pot and allow to simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring only after the first 15 minutes and very gently. At the end of the 30 minutes the rice should be fully cooked.
Meanwhile, season your shrimp with the juice of 1 lemon and a touch of salt and pepper. Broil on the highest rack for 5-6 minutes until slightly pink. Set aside.
Bring the remaining 1/2 cup of white wine to a boil in a medium sized saute pan along with the zest of 1 lemon. When it has reduced by half, lower the heat and add in the mussels and clams. Cover with a lid and steam for 4-5 minutes until all the clams and mussels have opened. Those who haven’t popped open, discard before tossing with the rice.
Once all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice add the frozen peas and steam for 10 minutes. Next add in all the seafood and freshly chopped herbs. Squeeze the juice of the second lemon over the dish and serve warm.
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Good Morning!! I have missed you!
This looks super yum I am about to print it out:)
Also, your kitchen must be nothing but windows….your lighting is always
awesome! So jealous!!! Mine look like I am in a cave! ha
Here’s to a great week friend,
XoXo
I love Paella. Yours looks delicious!
Now I’m craving some.
This looks delicious! I’ve done paella the classic way a few times and we loved it–now I’m anxious to try your less complicated rendition. Thanks!
Best,
Bonnie
One of my favorite summer meals, and, no, I don’t cook everything separated out for days, either. It’s such a colorful dish. Come visit when you can.
Oh this looks amazing.Looking at your pictures makes me want to make this today!! Thanks so much for your nice comment on my blog. I am having a giveaway of our all natural organic products to celebrate a milestone on my blog which you helped me get too. Thanks.
That looks amazing. I think I’ll make it this week for dinner.
YUMMMMMMMM! I have to have this now
You never cease to amaze me! i love your method. of course you can do paella the jambalaya method- why haven’t I thought of this before
Love this dish. One of my favorites and your pictures are magazine quality!
Looks excellent! Definitely going to be trying this recipe out in the near future!
i love paella. most of my friends don’t and i think they are weird!
This is spectacular! What great pictures!
Looks incredible! I’m a seafood & “see food” person so I can’t wait to try your recipe 🙂
A dish that you learn from and get filled with more culinary excitement and tastes good is a JACKPOT! I have never tried paella but, I love eating it.
That would have been the perfect Friday night in Lent meal, heck it’s seems like the perfect anytime meal. It’s going in the recipe file!
I have never eaten paella. It looks fantastic. I love all of the fresh seafood in there. Yum!
This looks SO good, and I’m so happy that it wouldn’t take me 12 years to make! I’ve always been intimidated by all the time involved in making Paella!
This looks amazing! I’m with you on the replacing meat with seafood- a great lighter option!
This looks amazing! One of the things I miss most as a vegetarian is seafood- this makes me crave it!
It’s my kind of dish!!! One pot and with seafood as well. What a great way to end day with a hearty meal like this.
Love it! My husband would flip if i made this. Your dish looks so beautiful, the pics are amazing and you describe it so wonderfully
yum! will you come to charleston and make this for me??? hope yall had a fabulous easter!!
Looks like it should be in a magazine!
love paella a perfect summer dish..glad you made it your own..yummy!!
sweetlife
This paella looks so aromatic and delicious! I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of saffron, but I bet it is amazing in this dish.
This looks and sounds amazing. Just found your blog- while searching for jambalaya recipe. Might have to try this instead. Hope to be back often
Your site is great! I am so glad I found you. I have been looking for a good salad dressing for this party I am throwing this weekend and I think this is perfect. I will be back with the reviews!
Before making the cioppino, I’d never cooked with clams. Even though I watched Giada doing it, I was still a little afraid. But not anymore! So, it’s high time I try making paella!
p.s. Thank you for your comment at Pretty Mommy’s blog yesterday! I’ll respond to your email soon!… still catching up from Easter :).
Love your method! It looks great
Paella is one of our family favorites seeing as how we are spanish! LOL! You version sounds delish and might get mom to try it out sometime. I love the pictures too- they look incredible- mag quality
To the Kitchen 🙂 I go to make this dish. okay not really right this second but I will be making this on the weekend- Going to the store tomorrowQ!
if only I could reach through the screen and have this for dinner right now….I’d be the happiest person, EVER
I’ve never ever had paella!!!! and I soooo want to try it! This looks like a good intro to the dish!!! <3
This looks like the perfect paella! I won a paella pan in a giveaway last year and I’ve never used it. This might have to be the one that I break it in with. 🙂
looks so appealing!this is also one dish that i hope to make one day. Over here, it’s very rare to find this in restaurants. Until i’m able to get some saffron, i shall try making my version of paella one day!