Pescatarian Shrimp Paella

This dish gets an A for presentation

Some paella recipes use chicken or chicken stock, while others include chorizo, kielbasa or prosciutto. This one uses vegetable stock and shrimp shells as the flavor for the base. The “meat” of the dish is shrimp. This dish is best made leisurely, when you just want to hang around in the kitchen for a while, listening to the radio, surrounded by the smells of the sofrito. Adapted from the Seafood Paella recipe on the Mediterrasian website.

In the summer I like to use fresh tomatoes instead of canned, removing the seeds and liquid. When possible, I substitute poblano peppers for green.

Ingredients

Red onion, finely chopped – 5oz
Garlic cloves, minced – 1 large
Parsley, chopped – 2 Tbl
Extra virgin olive oil – 3.5 Tbl
Canned tomatoes, sliced, liquid drained – 1 cup
Paprika – 1 tsp (1/2 hot, 1/2 smoked)
Shrimp – 2/3 lb
Red pepper, finely chopped – 1/2
Green pepper, finely chopped – 1/2
Arborio rice – 3/4 cups (132 grams)
Vegetable stock – 1.5 cups
Saffron threads, pinch – optional
Sea salt – 3/4 tsp
Freshly ground black pepper – 1/4 tsp
Green peas, defrosted – 1/2 cup

Method

1. Heat vegetable stock and shrimp shells in saucepan. Keep warm.
2. Heat olive oil (1 Tbl) in paella pan over medium heat.
3. Add onion (5oz), parsley (2 Tbl) and garlic clove to paella pan for 8 mins, stirring occasionally.
4. Add tomatoes (1 cup) and paprika (1 tsp).
5. Cook until all liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a small bowl.
6. Heat olive oil (1/2 Tbl) over medium-high heat.
7. Add shrimp. Cook 1 minute each side.
8. Remove shrimp from pan and lightly season with salt and pepper.
9. Cover, set aside.
10. Heat olive oil (2 Tbl) over medium heat.
11. Cook peppers for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
12. Add sofrito back to the pan, along with the rice. Cook a minute, stirring to coat.
13. Add hot stock. Bring to a rolling simmer.
14. Without stirring, cook uncovered for 10 minutes. (Rotating the pan periodically.)
15. Without stirring, lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook another 15 minutes.
16. Turn heat up to medium-high for one and a half minutes, then remove pan from heat.
17. Push seafood into the rice, and scatter with defrosted green peas.
18. Cover and let rest 5 minutes.
19. Serve with lemon wedges

This  Pescatarian Seafood Paella serves 2.
Approximately 411 calories per serving of Seafood Paella