We decided to fix paella for Christmas Eve supper this year. We have almost no connection to any Spanish heritage. My uncle Dean was married to my aunt Choni, a Spanish war bride. And Debbie’s family has had two Spanish exchange students (although one was Basque so we’re not sure whether to count her or not.) But nonetheless I have a paella pan, that I’d only used to make jambalaya previously, and the kids were home for Christmas, so paella it was.
I had hoped the weather would cooperate so I could cook outside over a wood fire, but we have 30 degrees, rain, and a 25 mph east wind here today.
The paella was a bit loaded, I saw recipes like this called “celebration paella” on-line somewhere. It was chicken (marinated in a bit of paprika and oregano), Spanish chorizo, some of my home cured ham, mussels, clams, and shrimp.
And it turned out fantastic. The shrimp was cooked but not tough, the rice was al dente, and it had a beautiful socarrat. (burned rice on the bottom, yum!)
But a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s six thousand words or so:
Getting started, browning some onions and garlic.
Added a jar of tomatoes.
And then chicken stock and rice.
Why is the dog in the kitchen?
Done!
Here we are, getting ready to dine, looking like the pretty people in Martha Stewart Living.
Will it be a new Christmas tradition? Check back next year…
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