My love for Paella started when I was young and traveled to Spain with my family. I was only in second grade, but I still remember our first meal there. My mom ordered my seafood paella, knowing I would love it, and I still remember how amazing it tasted! After that, I must have had it so many times. If you have not tried paella, I definitely recommend it. There are so many different ways to make it, it is hard to not find a way that you will enjoy! Check out the end of this post for substitutions!
This Paella recipe is nontraditional because I take an Indian approach to making it. I am not sure how paella is made traditionally, but I have to say that this recipe is amazing! I fry the spices, a traditional Indian method to cooking, and then add everything else. This brings out so much flavor! Frying spices makes them more aromatic and takes away the "raw taste" providing the dish with more depth. This is one reason why Indian dishes are so complex. Adding this technique to making this dish takes it to the next level!
If using mussels, make sure that when you buy them, they are all closed. If the mussels are open when they are raw, they are bad!!
I recommend using basmati rice or jasmine rice for this recipe. These are easier to find than the typical rice used for paella in my opinion and taste amazing still!
Squeeze lemon juice on top for extra yumminess!
The rice takes 20-30 minutes to finish cooking! That's it!
Substitutions:
•If vegetarian/vegan: replace water and chicken concentrate with 4 cups vegetable stock. Replace shrimp and mussels with asparagus, more bell peppers, mushrooms, squash, or any vegetables you like! You can quickly cook them in a pan on the side or roast them if you like your vegetables with some color, just season them with the same spices used in the rice!
•If not a seafood fan: uses sausage and chicken. Season chicken with the same ingredients as rice and roast on a pan with the sausage as well. Once they have sufficient color, add to the rice and allow it to finish cooking with the rice (last 5-10 minutes of the cooking process).
I hope you try this dish out! It makes a very large quantity, so perfect for meal prepping as well! ENJOY!
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