Marias Paella
Ingredients
2 1/2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up
1/2 C. olive oil (cannot be
substituted)
2 med. chopped onions (white)
2 C. regular or long grain uncooked
rice
4 C. chicken broth (I briefly boil
the chicken with spices & save the
broth, but chicken bouillon can be
used to make broth)
2 Tbsp. paprika
2 Tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/8-1/4 tsp. saffron (if out of
saffron, turmeric can be used but
it is not the same)
2 C. cleaned shrimp, about 1 1/2 lbs.
fresh or frozen
1 lb. fish fillets, cubed (any white
fish, haddock, pike or cod), raw
3 or 4 sm. lobster tails, briefly
cooked, cleaned & cut up into bite
size
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen green peas
1 (15 oz. or 2 – 6 oz.) cans
artichoke hearts, marinated,
drained
2 (4 oz.) cans pimientos, diced
Cooking Instructions
I boil the chicken briefly with seasonings, salt, pepper, garlic salt and a little crushed red peppers. Drain the chicken and save the broth. On a big skillet put olive oil and heat, fry chicken until golden. In a non-stick big pot, lightly saute onions, add raw rice, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, saffron, turmeric, and chicken broth and mix well letting it cook at a medium heat, covered. About 20 minutes check the liquid content, if rice still feels hard and liquid is gone add more broth and cover to cook some more. When rice is done it should be fluffy and tender. In a big pan mix rice, peas, artichoke hearts, drained pimientos, (stirring as you add), raw cubed fish, shrimp, lobster and the pieces of chicken. Cover and let it bake, covered for 1/2 hour at 250 to 300 degrees or until thoroughly hot, and fish and peas are cooked. As you know sea food cooks quickly, so remember that when preparing shrimp and the lobster. Also you may want to bake just about 30 to 45 minutes prior to serving time so sea food maintains its form. NOTE: Sometimes if I don’t have artichoke hearts, I substitute with can asparagus or hearts of palm. The asparagus I just add, but the hearts of palm have to be cut up into small pieces.
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalms 42:3)