RECIPE: Seafood Paella

Paella, is a dish that originated from Spain specifically the Valencian region. Paella has 3 known varieties; Paella Valenciana, Paella Marisco (seafood paella), and Paella Mixta (mixed paella). The recipe I am sharing with you is a Paella Marisco with a Filipino twist. As you might notice I replaced saffron with annatto powder more commonly known as 'achuete'. Saffron is a spice that is derived from a flower, is used as a seasoning and as a coloring agent which gives of a golden-yellow hue. Saffron is pretty hard to find and very expensive, 'achuete' on the other hand is relatively cheaper and readily available. Without further adieu, here is the recipe.
Buen Apetito!

Seafood Paella
4-6 Servings

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp oil
• 1 cup Spanish sausage (chorizo bilbao), diagonally cut
• 2 medium size bell pepper (1 red and 1 green ), cubed
• ½ cup green peas
• ¼ kg squid cleaned w/o head, slice into rings
• ¼ kg clams cleaned (soak the clams with salt to remove the sand inside the clams)
• ¼ kg shrimps deveined and clean with head intact and skin
• ¼ kg mussels, cleaned
• 2 cups Jasmine rice (or you can use Japanese rice)
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 whole onion, diced
• 2 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 tsp annatto powder
• 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the garnish:

1 pc. Boiled egg, cut into circles or wedges
Lemon wedge

Procedures:

1. In a paellera or cast iron pan, heat oil with the annatto powder. Saute the garlic, onion, chorizo , green peas and the bell pepper. Add in the tomato sauce and soysauce.
2. Let it simmer for a minute then add the rice. Let the rice coat evenly with the tomato sauce mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken stock and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Add in the squid, mussels, clams and shrimp. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and continue cooking in a pre-heated oven, 350°F for 30-45 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.
4. Garnish with egg slices and lemon wedges.

You can also add other seafoods like fish fillet or crabs.
You can also add chicken and pork for Paella Valenciana/Mixta.