Shrimp and Chorizo Lazy Paella Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated August 30, 2018
20120801ShrimpChorizoPaella.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

Chorizo and shrimp paella, an all-in-one superhero dinner wonder, in less than fifteen minutes. Boil-in-the-bag rice (there's nothing easier or more foolproof) is crisped with smoky chorizo, tender shrimp, green peas, fresh parsley, sweet shallots, and saffron. The rice soaks up all the flavor of the saffron and the ruby-tinged paprika oil of the chorizo. As good as the real thing? No way. But a great, delicious, filling meal for two in fifteen minutes? You bet!

Recipe Details

Shrimp and Chorizo Lazy Paella Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 15 mins
Serves 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 teaspoon (not packed) saffron
  • 8 1/2 ounces parboiled white rice (preferably cook-in-the-bag rice)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 ounces Spanish chorizo, sliced into thin coins
  • 1 large shallot, sliced
  • 20 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Directions

  1. Put the saffron in a small bowl and cover with 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Set aside to steep. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package instructions. Then drain, and set aside.

  2. While the rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring frequently, until it releases red oil, about 1 minute. Add the shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add the shrimp, and cook until almost completely pink, about 2 minutes. Add the peas, and cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque and the peas thawed, 1 minute longer.

  3. Push the shrimp and chorizo to the side of the pan and add the drained rice in the center. Add the saffron and its water. Stir the saffron into the rice and cook until the pan is dry. Then, stir in the shrimp and chorizo and peas from the corners of the pan. Stir in the parsley and serve

  4. Optional step: place the paella in an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish, and drizzle the top with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Place under a hot broiler just until the rice turns slightly crisp.

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