Welcome to our fantastic recipe for Quick and Easy Spanish Paella with Chorizo Sausage! If you’re a fan of vibrant flavors, hearty rice dishes, and effortless cooking, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe is your ticket to enjoying the authentic taste of paella without spending hours in the kitchen. Imagine a sizzling pan filled with succulent shrimp, tender chicken, flavorful chorizo, and an array of colorful vegetables, all nestled in a bed of perfectly seasoned rice. With just a few simple steps, you can create a mouthwatering paella that will impress your family and friends. Whether you’re hosting a gathering, planning a weeknight dinner, or simply seeking a delicious one-pot meal, our Quick and Easy Spanish Paella with Chorizo Sausage recipe is the answer. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the flavors of Spain as we explore this delightful culinary adventure together!
Ingredients
Saffron Broth:
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, shells reserved
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon saffron threads, or more to taste
- 2 ¼ cups chicken broth
Paella:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces chorizo sausage, sliced into thin rounds
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ⅓ cups Arborio rice
- ½ cup green peas
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
Directions
- Cook and stir reserved shrimp shells and 2 teaspoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until shells are pink and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir saffron into shells; add chicken broth, bring to a simmer, and cook until broth is a rusty brown and fragrant, about 20 minutes.
- Strain saffron broth through a fine-mesh sieve; measure out 2 cups of broth, pour into a small saucepan, and place over low heat to keep broth hot.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Cook chorizo slices in hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Add onion to sausage; cook and stir until soft and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Stir garlic into chorizo mixture; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add rice to skillet and stir to coat rice completely in oil; stir in peas.
- Pat rice mixture evenly into the bottom of the skillet. Arrange shrimp in a single layer over the top of the rice. Lay pepper strips around and in between shrimp; season with salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Increase heat to high. When rice begins to sizzle in the skillet, pour reserved 2 cups hot saffron broth over the shrimp; gently shake the skillet to distribute liquid.
- Bake rice mixture in the preheated oven until rice is almost tender and still a bit wet, about 20 minutes.
- Place skillet over medium-high and cook until rice is tender, liquid is absorbed, and rice caramelizes and crusts slightly on the bottom of the skillet, 3 to 5 minutes.
