Mexican-Style Seafood Paella
Ingredients
- 2 cups Carolina® Authentic Parboiled Medium Grain Rice for Paella
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into large chunks
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
- 2 cured chorizo sausages, chopped
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 1/2 cups sodium-reduced chicken broth
- 2 chipotles in adobo, minced
- 4 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 lb mussels, cleaned
- 12 oz peeled deveined shrimp, tail removed
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
Bring the dinner table to life with this flavor-packed Tex-Mex style paella loaded with mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and chicken!
Step 1
Heat oil in large high-sided skillet set over medium heat; cook chicken, salt and pepper for 3 to 5 minutes or until starting to brown. Transfer to plate.
Step 2
Stir in chorizo, onion, garlic, bell pepper and jalapeños for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in rice, cumin and oregano; cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until well coated.
Step 3
Stir in tomatoes, broth, chipotles and turmeric; bring to boil. Return chicken to pan. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook for 12 to 15 minutes.
Step 4
Nestle mussels and shrimp on top of rice; cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed, rice is tender, chicken and shrimp are cooked through, and mussels are opened.
Step 5
Discard any mussels that have not opened. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Recipe Tip
Scrub mussels and remove any beards. Before cooking, discard any mussels with cracked shells or any mussels that do not close when tapped.
Paella Mexican-Style
While authentic paella has its origins in Spain, this tasty twist on the traditional Spanish dish is made Mexican-style with ingredients like red peppers, jalapeños, chipotle, cilantro, and lime, all essential parts of Mexican cuisine. This flavor-packed dish is perfect for sharing with family or at your next get-together because it features an array of flavors and expertly brings together chicken, shrimp, mussels, and chorizo sausage with spices like turmeric, cumin, and dried oregano.
When looking for a tasty meal to feed several people, you can always count on a paella to get the job done. Whether you’re in the mood for chicken, seafood, pork, a vegetarian option, or a little bit of everything like in this tasty dish, there is sure to be a paella recipe that’s just right for the occasion. And what’s better than one-pan meals for easy clean up afterward?
Using the Right Grains
The secret to a perfect paella is in the rice. The type of grains you use can make or break your paella dish so using the right type of rice will make all of the difference. Carolina® Parboiled Medium Grain Rice is specially designed for paella because when cooked, it remains compact and absorbs all of the great cooking flavors for a delicious meal. Create your own paella with your favorite ingredients and learn a few tips along the way, or try some of our favorites like this Roasted Harvest Veggie Paella or this Authentic Seafood Paella.
Browse all of our other rice varieties for different meal options from sushi to a creamy rice pudding and risotto!
