Red Lobster South Beach Seafood Paella
6 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup minced onions
1 small sweet red bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 small sweet green bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 cup canned chopped tomatoes, drained
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. minced fresh thyme
1 lb. sea scallops
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 oz. andouille sausage, cut into 1/2" thick pieces
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 cups long-grain rice
1 tsp. saffron threads
3 cups chicken stock, hot
3 cups clam juice, hot
12 large or jumbo shrimp, cleaned and peeled, leaving tails intact
1 lb. fresh fish (grouper, scrod, haddock, halibut or swordfish),
skinless, cut into 1" chunks
16 fresh mussels
1/2 lb. sugar snap peas
1 medium red pepper, cut into long 1/2" wide strips
Chopped fresh parsley to garnish
Preparation:
The "Sofrito"
1. In a heavy 12" skillet, heat 3 tbsp. olive oil until hot. Add the
onions and pepper, and cook, stirring for 5 minutes until they�re
soft and transparent.
2. Add tomatoes, garlic and thyme. Cook, stirring for 5 more
minutes, until most of the liquid in the pan evaporates and the
mixture is thick.
3. Put the sofrito aside for later.
Seafood and Sausage:
1. Season the fish, shrimp and scallops with salt and pepper.
2. In a skillet, heat 3 tbsp. of olive oil over moderately high heat
until hot.
3. Add the fish, shrimp and scallops, as well as the mussels, and
saut� for 3-5 minutes.
4. Add the sausage and cook until light brown.
5. Transfer to a plate and deglaze pan with 1/2 cup of dry white
wine.
Paella:
1. About 30 minutes before you plan to serve the paella, preheat an
oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a 14" paella pan or shallow casserole dish at least 14" in
diameter, combine the sofrito, rice and saffron.
3. Pour in 3 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups of clam juice (save 1
cup for the end). Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over high
heat.
4. Remove the pan from the heat immediately and season with salt and
pepper.
5. Arrange the seafood on the top of the rice.
6. Set the pan on the lowest shelf in the oven and bake uncovered
for 20 minutes. Do not stir the paella once it goes in the oven.
7. Sprinkle the sugar snap peas and the red pepper strips over the
whole paella, and bake for 5-10 minutes more, or until all of the
liquid has been absorbed by the rice and the grains are tender, but
not too soft. If the rice needs to be softer, add the remaining cup
of clam juice.
8. Remove from stove and let stand for five minutes before serving.
Garnish with parsley.
Estimated cooking time: 30 minutes (not including prep time).
Chef's Tips:
Paella, which originated in Spain, can be made with chicken, pork,
sausage or seafood.
Make sure you use the freshest seafood for this recipe. You can tell
if the shrimp and scallops are fresh by making sure that they have a
nice aroma that is not overpowering. Mussels and clams are fresh if
their shells are closed. Once you cook them, they will open up.
This paella dish reheats well. If you make it the night before, put
it in the oven at 350-400 degrees F for approximately 30-40 minutes
covered (to keep the dish moist, add either more chicken stock or
clam juice before putting it in the oven).
Beverage Suggestions:
Sangria is a nice accompaniment due to the sweetness of the drink.
Another good pairing is wines from the Mediterranean, Italy, or
Spain � either whites or reds. Source: Red Lobster
Restaurant's recipe collection at www.redlobster.com |