Easy Seafood Paella Recipe

You can whip up this easy version of the traditional Spanish seafood dish with the food straight from your pantry. Thanks to bbcgoodfood you can now have the taste and smell of Spain in your home.

What is Paella?

Paella is a Spanish dish. It's roots come from a territory in Spain known as Valencia. Usually, yellow saffron rice is one of the main ingredients, but you could also use risotto rice. It can be accompanied by any combination of seafood, chicken, pork and various types of herbs and spices. All of these will give you abundant amounts of minerals, vitamins including vitamin B12, omega 3 fatty acids as well as iron and protein. Omega 3 fatty acids are important for brain and heart function. In a pregnant woman, omega 3 fatty acids are important for the healthy development and functioning of the foetus. Seafood is also high in iodine which is great for brain health in the developing foetus.

How to Make Paella Seafood

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp each hot smoked paprika and dried thyme
• 300g paella or risotto rice
• 3 tbsp dry sherry or white wine (optional)
• 400g can chopped tomatoes with garlic
• 900ml chicken stock
• 400g bag frozen seafood mix
• juice ½ lemon, other half cut into wedges
• handful flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the onion and soften for 5 mins.
2. Stir in the paprika, thyme and rice, stir for 1 min, then splash in the Sherry or wine, if using.
3. Once it has evaporated, stir in the tomatoes and stock.
4. Season and cook, uncovered, for about 15 mins, stirring now and again until rice is almost tender and still surrounded with some liquid.
5. Stir the frozen seafood into the pan and cover with a lid. Simmer for 5 mins, or until the prawns are cooked through and the rice is tender.
6. Squeeze over the lemon juice, scatter with parsley and serve with extra lemon wedges.

For more seafood recipes, visit our recipes page.