PAELLA A LA VELENCIANA (Spain): Chicken and Seafood Rice

Tonight a friend of mine from Jersey was asking me about Paella.  Last spring, I cooked some paella dishes and here are the recipe in this blog post.

PAELLA A LA VELENCIANA (Spain)

Chicken and Seafood Rice

Yield:  4 Portions

INGREDIENTS:

12 oz.	Pork, lean, diced
4 ea.	Chicken legs, cut into thighs and drumsticks
3 oz.	Olive oil
2 ea.	Garlic cloves, chopped
6 oz.	Onion, small dice
6 oz.	Red pepper, small dice
6 oz.	Green pepper, small dice
3/4 lb.	Rice, short grain
1/2 tsp.	Saffron, crushed
1/4 tsp.	Salt
1/2  cup	Chicken stock, hot
2 lb.	Clams, fresh littleneck, cleaned
2 lb.	Mussels, fresh, cleaned
2 lb.	Shrimp, 16/20, P&D
1 lb.	Chorizo link, cooked, sliced
8 oz.	Tomato concasse, small dice
4 oz.	Carrots, small dice
4 oz.	Peas (garden)
4 oz.	Scallions, sliced
2 ea.	Lemons

Method:

1.                  Brown the chicken and pork in the olive oil. Remove and reserve.

2.                  Sauté the garlic, onion, and peppers in the reserved oil.

3.                  Add the rice, saffron and salt. Stir until the rice is coated with oil.

4.                  Add the stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the pan and place it in a 400- degree F.          oven. Cook the rice mixture for 8 minutes.

5.                  Place the clams and mussels on top the rice. Check the rice periodically and add more stock or water if necessary. Replace the cover and return the pan to the oven for 5 minutes.

6.                  Add the shrimp, chorizo, tomato concasse, carrots and peas. Return the pan to the oven and cook paella until the shrimp is cooked through and all the ingredients are very hot.

7.  Garnish the paella with the scallions and strips of roasted red pepper. Drizzle with juice of 1 lemon. Cover the paella pan and allow the paella to rest for 10 minutes. Wedge the remaining lemons and serve with the paella.

Cooking in Global Cuisine - Shrimp Risotto and Cheese Manicotti

Cooking in Global Cuisine

MANICOTTI WITH RICOTTA FILLING (Italy)

and SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP (Italy) 

SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP (Italy)

Yield:  4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

    

Garlic cloves, minced	2 ea.
Onions, minced	4 oz.
Butter	507;.
Stock, seasoned	2  1/2 pnts
Arborio rice	14 oz.
Bay leaves	2 ea.
Saffron threads, crushed	pinch
Parsley, chopped	3 tblsp.
Parmesan cheese, grated	2 oz.
Shrimp, P&D, tail off, sauteed	1 1/2 lb.
Salt	to taste
Pepper	to taste

Method:

1.                 Sauté garlic and onion in 3 ounces butter

2.                 Add rice; stir until grains are coated with butter.

3.                 Add one-third of the stock, stir until rice absorbs liquid.

4.                 Add bay leaves, saffron, and one-third of stock, continue to stir.

5.                 Add remaining stock, continue to stir.

6.                 When all liquid is absorbed, add parsley, Parmesan cheese, remaining butter, and sautéed                shrimp.

7.                 Stir rice only enough to mix ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.  

MANICOTTI WITH RICOTTA FILLING (Italy)

Yield: 4 - 8

INGREDIENTS:

            1 ½ cup           Ricotta

            ¼ cup              Parsley, chopped

            ½ tsp               Salt

            1 ea                  Egg, slightly beaten

            8 ea                  Manicotti shells

            1 cup               Marinara sauce

            ½ cup              Shredded mozzarella cheese

            ¼ cup              Grated parmesan cheese

METHOD

1. Combine ricotta, parsley, salt, and egg; refrigerate.
2. Boil manicotti according to package directions.
3. Drain and cool in cold water.
4. Pour half of marinara sauce into 9” x 9” baking dish.
5. Stuffed drained manicotti with filling and place on sauce on dish.
6. Top with remaining marinara sauce.
7. Scatter mozzarella on manicotti and sprinkle parmesan cheese over top.
8. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 35 to 30 minutes.

Mexican Gumbo w/Chicken

Mexican Gumbo w/ Chicken

By: Kelli Venezia & Skip Graden

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed of fat and diced (Grill Chicken for additional flavor, any other meats such as Steak, Chorizo, or season Ground Beef may be added or substituted)

3 cups frozen bell pepper and onion mix (about 10 ounces) (1 pkg Southwest Blend of Fajita Veggies) or Grilled/Roast Fresh

1 tablespoon ground cumin (less if desired, 1 teaspoon for mild, 2 for medium)

2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably with green chiles
1 15-ounce can Black Beans drained

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons lime juice (prefer fresh Lime)

1 cup Instant Rice
1 cup V-8 Juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (add some just before boiling, reserve the rest for garnish)

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Sour Cream & Chips for garnish

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. (Unless you have previously Grilled the chicken and veggies) Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.

Add pepper-onion mix and cumin to the pot, still complete this step if previously grilled roasted the veggies. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned, or if previously Grilled warmed through, about 4 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, black beans, pepper and lime juice; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes more.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juice, add the rice & V-8 Juice, at this time to the pot and bring to a low boil then reduce heat to a simmer, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; stir in cilantro. Garnish with Chips, Cheese, Cilantro, & Sour Cream.

EDIT 9/20/15: As I read this over after completion of becoming Certified Culinarian (actual chef), I am seeing some changes that I would use that I think may elevate a great soup. I would add a small dice of carrots and celery to the peppers and onions. (snd if threre is time to fire roast them before sauteing that would be optimal.) I may also add some minced jalapeno, maybe 1/2 of one? Dependant of how much heat you desire??? Lastly instead of rice, Quinoa could be used.  It adds to the protien punch as Quinoa has 8 of the 9 essential amino acids needed to consider it a perfect protien!