Seafood Paella
Ingredients
&w=3840&q=75){kind=small}
- 1 pound white fish bones and heads – rinsed (for stock)
- 1 small leek – sliced (for stock)
- 2 cloves garlic – crushed (for stock)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 leaf bay leaf
- 6 count whole black peppercorns
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt – for stock
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion – finely chopped (~1 medium yellow onion)
- 3 cloves garlic – finely chopped
- 1 cup red bell pepper – finely chopped (~1.5 medium red bell peppers)
- 1 cup ripe tomatoes – grated (discard skins)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 cups bomba rice
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt – for rice
- 8 ounces squid – cleaned and cut into 0.5-inch rings
- 8 ounces monkfish – cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 pound large shrimp – shell-on (~38 medium shrimps)
- 1 pound mussels – scrubbed and debearded (~63 medium mussels)
- 1/2 pound littleneck clams – scrubbed (~30 small littleneck clams)
- flat-leaf parsley – finely chopped (for finishing)
- lemon wedges – for serving
Instructions
1. Make the stock: In a pot, combine the water, white fish bones and heads, leek, garlic (for stock), bay leaf, whole black peppercorns, dry white wine, and kosher salt (for stock). Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 25–30 minutes; strain, stir in the saffron threads, and keep the stock hot at a bare simmer.
2. Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a 15-inch paella pan over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and cook until translucent and sweet, 5–7 minutes.
3. Add the garlic (finely chopped) and cook until fragrant, 30–60 seconds, then stir in the red bell pepper and cook 2–3 minutes to soften.
4. Stir in the grated ripe tomatoes and sweet paprika. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sofrito is thick and jammy and most moisture has cooked off, 6–8 minutes.
5. Add the bomba rice and stir to coat and lightly toast, about 2 minutes.
6. Pour in 6 cups of the hot saffron stock and season with the kosher salt (for rice). Spread the rice evenly with a spatula and bring to a lively simmer; from this point, do not stir.
7. After 10 minutes of simmering, arrange the squid and monkfish evenly over the surface so they cook with the rice.
8. Peel and devein the large shrimp, then tuck them into the rice so they are just submerged; cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque, 6–8 minutes.
9. Nestle the mussels and littleneck clams hinge-side down into the rice, spacing them around the pan. Continue to cook until the shellfish open and the rice is just al dente with most liquid absorbed, 8–10 minutes; discard any that do not open.
10. Increase the heat to medium-high for 1–2 minutes to develop a socarrat; listen for a faint crackling and stop before it smells burnt.
11. Remove from the heat, cover the pan with a clean towel, and rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flat-leaf parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Seafood Paella is a celebratory Spanish rice dish known for its saffron-scented grains, briny shellfish, and the prized socarrat—the caramelized crust that forms on the bottom of the pan. The texture balances tender, separate kernels of short-grain rice with juicy bites of squid, shrimp, and meaty fish, while mussels and clams steam open on top. Fragrant sofrito—an onion, pepper, garlic, and tomato base—builds depth and sweetness that complements the clean flavors of the sea.
Originating on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, paella evolved from open-fire rice cookery in Valencia and neighboring regions. While Paella Valenciana is tied to land-based ingredients, coastal communities developed paella de marisco (seafood paella) using the day’s catch. Over time, the wide, shallow paella pan and the technique of not stirring, which encourages an even cook and socarrat, became defining hallmarks. Today, seafood paella remains a communal dish central to weekend gatherings and seaside restaurants throughout Spain.