Easy Seafood Paella

This Seafood Paella Recipe is served with saffron aioli and brimming with shrimp, clams, chicken & chorizo. It's an impressive yet low-key Spanish dish that's perfect for parties!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped )
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh)
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
• 2 cloves garlic (grated or minced)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 32 ounces seafood stock (or bone broth or chicken broth)
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3 links Spanish chorizo sausage (cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices, about 9 ounces)
• 4 chicken thighs (boneless & skinless)
• 1 large yellow onion (minced)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 3 cups arborio rice (uncooked )
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 1 dozen littleneck clams (scrubbed)
• 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp (uncooked and peeled with tails attached (about 8 shrimp) )
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh )
• Lemon wedges (optional)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 clove garlic (grated or minced)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (to taste)
• Pinch saffron (optional)
• Pinch salt

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Rub the spice mix all over the 4 chicken thighs and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator (or overnight).
2. 2Prepare the herb blend and set aside.
3. 3Combine 32 ounces seafood stock, water and 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer and keep warm over low heat (do not boil).
4. 4Heat oil in paella pan over medium-high heat. Sautee the 3 links Spanish chorizo sausage until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken and brown on all sides. Remove from pan and reserve.
5. 5In the same pan, sautee the 1 large yellow onion and 4 cloves garlic for 2-3 minutes on medium heat, until fragrant. Add 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes and 1 teaspoon sweet paprika and cook until mixture caramelizes a bit. Add the 3 cups arborio rice and stir to coat the grains.
6. 6Stir the warmed stock mixture into the rice, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid.
7. 7Add the herb mixture, 1 cup frozen green peas, chicken and chorizo and stir. Add the 1 dozen littleneck clams and 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, tucking them into the rice. Continue to cook over medium heat until the shrimp turn pink and the clams open, approximately 8 minutes.
8. 8Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes.
9. 9Meanwhile, make the aioli by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and stirring to combine.
10. 10When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom.
11. 11Remove from heat and sprinkle with 1/4 cup lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a towel, and let stand 10 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and saffron aioli.