Barcelona Paella

The classic Paella, a cult favourite within the Spanish cuisine. Paired with saffron flavoured rice, this dish carries an abundance of flavours, including chicken; Norwegian Lobster, squid, mussels and monkfish.

• Ingredients:
  For the Sauté:
  3 tbsp Olive oil
  1⁄2 Medium onion
  1/3 Green pepper
  1⁄2 Head of garlic
  250g fresh or preserved tomato
  1 Pinch of sugar
• For the Paella
  400g Rice
  300g chopped chicken
  350g Squid
  250g Green beans
  75g Fresh or frozen peas
  6 Prawns
  6 Norwegian Lobsters
  400g Clean mussels
  12 chunks of Monkfish
  200 ml of Extra virgin olive oil
  1⁄2 tsp Saffron
  800 ml Fish stockMaldon ® Salt

Method:

1. For the mussels, heat two inches of water in a saucepan over a high heat. When it reaches the boil, add the mussels for a minute, remove from the heat and set aside without opening the lid.
2. Whilst the mussels are boiling, begin prepping the remainder of the vegetables, chopping them finely. Heat the paella pan, keeping the pan on a medium-high heat in the centre, whilst keeping the sides at a low hear.
3. Pour 2 tbsp of oil in the centre of the paella pan. Add the head of garlic to the pan.
4. Brown the Norwegian Lobsters and prawns for 1 minute on either side and remove them.
5. For the sauté base, move the garlic to the side of the paella pan, add another 1 tbsp of oil and sauté the onion until it starts to turn transparent. Add the green pepper and stir the mixture as it cooks for 5 minutes at a low heat. Add the tomato and stir the mixture together. Add a pinch of sugar and Maldon Salt.
6. Move the sauté mix to the sides of the paella pan where the heat is lower. Add another tablespoon of oil and fry the chicken for 5-10 minutes and the squid 5 for minutes more (until they are golden). Bring the sauté mix back to the centre of the paella pan, mix everything together and push it back to the sides.
7. Sauté the green beans and peas for 2 minutes. Bring the sauté mixture back from the sides to the centre and stir everything together.
8. Add the remaining oil and the rice, stirring with the ingredients for 2 minutes over a high heat. Spread the whole mixture evenly over the paella pan, with the garlic head in the middle
9. Add the fish stock. When the water boils, lower the heat to the minimum and leave to simmer for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, add the diced monkfish to the rice. Open the mussels, keeping only the shell with the mussel meat. Finally, place the prawns, Norwegian Lobsters and mussels on top of the rice.
10. After 20 minutes, turn off the heat, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Serve with eighths of lemon. Finish with a pinch of Maldon Salt.