Recently we were wandering the aisles of Costco when my recently converted to healthy eating husband decided we could not live without this 2.5 pound of mixed seafood. Keep in mind there is just two of us and he really doesn't like fish but eats it because he has decided that's what he needs to be eating. So now his bright idea has now become my responsibility which is how things go in our house. So off I go surfing the Internet for ideas on how to use this mix bag of fish. Oh, by the way did mention he is not the most open minded person when it comes to eating. Quite quickly it becomes apparent the best immediate recipe is paella. Now if you have looked up a recipe for paella you'll soon realize there are thousands of recipes for paella. So I wound up taking ideas from several sources and creating my version of a paella he would eat and not shrug his shoulders saying 'It's O.K. You make other things better" This recipe wound up in the "keeper" file. Hope you enjoy it!
Seafood Paella
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup dry white wine
1.5 lbs. mixed seafood
2 peeled, seeded and diced tomatoes
1 diced onion
1 bell pepper diced
1/2 cup of green peas defrosted (can use any other green veggie)
4 bay leaves
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon crumbled saffron thread
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Chopped parsley and lemon wedges for garnish (optional)
In a skillet with a lid or if you own a paella pan, saute onions till translucent. Add bay leaves, garlic, and bellpepper cooking for 2 minutes or untill garlic starts to turn golden. Add rice and paprika cooking for another 2 minutes. Tomatoes, wine salt and pepper are added next along with chicken broth. Stir throughly and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes. Add the seafood, cover and put in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, add peas, toss till well blended and garnish with parsley and lemon. Serve and enjoy!
