Chicken, Chorizo, and Saffron Paella with Olives, Red Peppers, and a Hazelnut Picada
Yield: 14 portions
Watch the video.
| Ingredients | Amounts |
|---|---|
| Hazelnut picada | |
| Saffron | 1 pinch |
| Garlic cloves, minced | 2 ea. |
| Parsley, minced | 1 Tbsp. |
| Water | 2 Tbsp. |
| Salt | to taste |
| Hazelnuts | 30 ea. |
| Lemon juice | 1 tsp. |
| Extra virgin olive oil | to taste |
| Extra virgin olive oil | ¼ cup |
| Chorizo sausage, cut into ¼" slices | ½ lbs |
| Red onion, small diced | 1 cup |
| Garlic, minced | 2 Tbsp. |
| Chicken, sautéed and diced | 2 lb. |
| Tomato paste | 2 Tbsp. |
| Bay leaves | 3 ea. |
| Fresh rosemary, chopped | 1 Tbsp. |
| Fresh sage, chopped | 1 Tbsp. |
| Salt | 2 tsp. |
| Black pepper, freshly ground | 2 tsp. |
| Saffron threads | 1 tsp. |
| Crushed red pepper | ¼ tsp. |
| Roasted red peppers, julienned | 1 cup |
| Chicken broth | 6 cups |
| U.S. medium-grain rice | 3 cups |
| Tomato, medium diced | 4 cups |
| Lemon wedges | for garnish |
| Manzanilla olives | for garnish |
Method
- For the picada: Grind the saffron, garlic, parsley, water, salt, and hazelnuts together in a mortar. Add the lemon juice and olive oil. Reserve.
- For the paella: Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large paella pan over medium, heat olive oil. Add chorizo sausage and sauté until brown.
- Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Add the chicken, tomato paste, bay leaves, rosemary, sage, salt, pepper, saffron, crushed red pepper, and roasted red peppers; stir well and continue to sauté for a minute or two.
- Add the chicken broth and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the uncooked rice and diced tomatoes over the mixture and stir to combine. Raise the heat to medium-high until the mixture boils.
- Place paella pan in oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove bay leaves and fluff paella with a fork, then bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until rice is cooked and mixture seems dry. Let the paella stand for 5 minutes.
- Serve the paella in bowls. Top with the picada and garnish with the lemon wedges and Manzanilla olives.
