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  • Serves 6
  • 30 minutes
  • Difficulty Medium
  • 11 Ingredients

58 Comments

I call this Seafood Paella ‘cheap cheap’ because it is! Seafood Marinara Mix is usually much cheaper than fish fillets and a half kilo usually only costs me $6 – $7.

This recipe feeds 3 adults (well 2 adults and 1 teenager who eats more than his father) and 2 primary aged children with leftovers for lunch the next day.

We made this on MoM Cook Club LIVE too! You can watch the video here (the Paella is after the Dark Chocolate Banana Bread):


Ingredients (serves 6)

  • 2 cups Arborio Rice
  • 1/2kg Seafood Marinara Mix
  • 6 cups Chicken Stock (fresh, bought or made up from stock powder/cubes)
  • 1 small Red Capsicum
  • 1 bunch Broccolini (or 1 cup broccoli florets)
  • 3 Lemons
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1/4 cup Fresh herbs (Parsley & Thyme)
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Saffron
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil

Method

  1. Finely chop/mince garlic cloves and add olive oil, paprika and saffron. Roughly chop the capsicum into slivers/chunks, chop the broccolini into 2 - 3cm long pieces and roughly chop the fresh herbs.
  2. Using a high sided frypan (make sure you have a lid that fits the pan) heat to medium heat. Add the spice paste you have just made and allow to sizzle for 20 - 30 seconds.
  3. Add the arborio rice and stir well ensuring no sticking to the pan. Continue to do this until the rice grains are translucent.
  4. Add half the chicken stock, stir well and bring to the boil. Once the stock is bubbling away, place the lid onto the frypan, reduce heat to a high simmer and allow to cook for 5 - 8 minutes.
  5. After 5 - 8 minutes remove lid, stir and then add the remaining chicken stock. Leave the lid off now and continue to simmer. During this time a large amount of the stock will be absorbed by the rice.
  6. After another 5 minutes add the capsicum and the broccolini and stir. Then spread the seafood marinara mix across the top of the rice and spoon some of the remaining liquid over the seafood to encourage cooking through.
  7. At this stage, resist the urge to really stir it all up - if you do, the seafood breaks apart and it all looks too mushy! Don't worry if a little of the rice sticks to the bottom - this is what happens in an authentic paella.
  8. After approximately 5 minutes check the texture of the rice. You want it to be soft but still have a tiny little 'bite' in the centre of the grain. Again, if you cook too long, it goes to mush.
  9. To serve, squeeze a full lemon over the whole paella, sprinkle with the fresh herbs, sprinkle with a good crack of black pepper, a good shake of paprika and a little drizzle of olive oil if you like. Serve in the pan - looks much more effective if all the seafood is still beautifully placed around the pan.
  10. Some people like to also grate parmesan over their paella. Some also like to add chicken chunks or chorizo sausage. Your choice - just ensure if you are adding chorizo, you cook it right at the beginning of the process and the same goes for the chicken.

Notes

My kids love this and call it 'yellow rice'. They gobble up 2 bowls each every time! I love that it's only one pan to wash, a knife and a cutting board. Then just 5 bowls and 5 forks! It's actually a great dish to use up leftover bits of chicken, sausage or even some veges. You can easily switch out the veges for others e.g. if you don't have broccolini, use frozen peas or fresh green beans chopped up. Just aim for lots of bright colours!

  • This sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  • We love Paella. Definitely going to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • I have been searching high and low for a paella recipe that doesn’t break the bank and is easy to make!

    Reply

  • I hope mine looks as good as the picture accompanying this recipe! Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  • Cheap and can use up leftovers! That’s perfect. Yum.

    Reply

  • OMG I love seafood paella and only every buy it when it’s on the menu. I’ve never tried to make it myself. This makes it so possible for me.

    Reply

  • What a great use for the Marinara mix – never would have thought of that. Now I’ll have to try to incorporate this into a renal diet as the seafood is high in protein but low in potassium. Yay!

    Reply

  • Fantastic recipe. The whole family loved it.

    Reply

  • All paella recipes make it sound too hard but this seems very simple to make. And bonus only one pan to clean afterwards!

    Reply

  • I’ve never made paella before because it always looks so complicated. I’m now willing to give it a go.

    Reply

  • Oh yummo! I am so going to give this a go for my family. Think it will be a hit!

    Reply

  • Great recipe and very quick and easy to make. Paella fan here

    Reply

  • Thank you, this looks tempting.

    Reply

  • You make it look so easy and looks delicious too. Can’t wait to give this a try

    Reply

  • This looks delicious !! So excited to try this out ???? We love seafood but it can be so expensive. Such a great cheap meal for the family. X

    Reply

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