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Cook up some picture perfect paella

Chef Jose Andres shares some of his secrets for serving up a taste of Spain to your dinner guests. Check out his recipe

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Throw a party with this paella dish
July 11: Jose Andres, author of "Tapas ... A Taste of Spain in America," cooks up paella with the "Today" show's Al Roker.

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updated 10:55 a.m. ET July 11, 2006

Despite what you think, the name paella doesn't actually refer to the food. It refers to the dish it's made in. But what really matters is what’s inside, and that’s purely delicious! Chef Jose Andres, author of "Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America," was invited to appear on “Today” to share some of his secrets for the perfect paella. Check his chicken and lobster recipe:

Paella de bogavante y pollo( Rice with lobster and chicken)
Chef Jose Andres, author of "Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America"

INGREDIENTS

Paella

2 ounces Spanish extra virgin olive oil
1 whole lobster (cut tail into medallions, claws in 1/2, body in 1/2, arms 1/2, no little arms)
12 ounces chicken thighs (cut 1-inch to 2-inch cubes)
2 cups morels
2 ounces ñoras sofrito
1-1/2 cups Spanish rice like Bomba or Calasparra
5 cups fish stock
1 pinch azafrán de la Mancha (saffron)
Salt to taste
Alioli

Ñora sofrito

15 ñoras (small, dried red peppers)
4 ounces Spanish extra virgin olive oil
2 red peppers
4 garlic cloves
24 ounces grated tomato puree
Salt to taste

Fish Stock

6 pounds fish bones
4 quarts water
2 heads garlic
4 cups red bell peppers, large dice
4 ounces ñoras
4 ounces Spanish olive oil
Salt to taste
1 lobster
1 octopus

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

For the Paella:
Put the extra virgin olive oil in a paella pan over high heat. When it is hot, sauté the pieces of lobster. Remove and set aside.

Add the chicken and sauté both sides. Add the morels and sauté. Add the ñora sofrito, rice and saffron. Sauté for a few minutes and cover with the paella stock. Set the timer for 5 minutes and cook the paella over high heat. Stir the rice during this stage.

Once the five minutes is up, do not touch the rice! Lower the temperature and set the timer for 6 more minutes. When the timer goes off, add the lobster, shell side down, to the pan. Set the timer for 5 more minutes. Do not touch the rice! Once the timer goes off, remove from the heat and let the paella rest for 5 minutes. Serve with alioli on the side.

Sofrito de ñoras
Ñora sofrito
Deep fry the ñoras (small, dried red peppers) and set aside. Heat the olive oil and sauté the peppers until they get soft. Add the fried ñoras and cook until they get soft. Add the garlic and cook until you get a brown color; add the tomato pulp until it's reduced (no acid). Pour the mix into a blender and add salt to taste. Add a little water to the pan to get the flavor from the pan, and add to the blender, mix until you get a thick paste consistency.

Caldo de pescado Casa Juan
Fish Stock
Place bones, water, lobster and octopus in large stockpot. Bring to a boil and simmer for approximately 1 hour. In another pot, heat olive oil. When hot, add red peppers, cooking until soft. Remove and set aside.

In the same oil, add garlic cloves. Cook until brown. Remove and set aside. In the same oil, add ñoras. Cook until a little soft. In a large container, blend tomato sauce, garlic, red peppers and ñoras. Add mix to fish stock and simmer for approximately 1 hour. Strain and season to taste. Let cool.

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