Paella Fried Rice
Paella is the iconic Spanish rice dish, cooked over coals in a special broad, flat pan with shellfish, chicken, and sausage. I have never made the real thing, but my Mom has mastered this art form. I'll try to get my hands on a photo. Then you'll see what big culinary shoes I have to fill.
I've featured fried rice here before, calling it the lifeboat of the leftover world. (Because it carries everything in your fridge to safety. Duh.) Why do I feel so much freedom lately to use ridiculous similes? I'm recovering from too many well-structured term papers, I think. Anyway, this version of fried rice is very unorthodox and requires pretty much these ingredients to get the yum factor the photo promises. So this one isn't the lifeboat...maybe it's the high-maintenance yacht? This is where the boat comparisons really break down.
I normally just use a spicy smoked sausage, but this week I happened to have this beautiful chorizo my Mom gave us. If you can get your hands on some, it transforms everything, giving the rice an orange, oily sheen and unbeatable flavor. Fair warning, though--I haven't found it anywhere in my neighborhood (the Rainier Valley).
Yancey has entered yet another phase of training (this time only 3 weeks) before he starts at the station, and he's been coming home exhausted and famished. He ate his big bowl and then finished Wyatt's. Wyatt was put off by the vegetables, so he spent dinner crying in his room because I wouldn't give him something else. Soothing mealtime soundtrack. No, I do not have that battle figured out, and I bristle when parents brag, "Oh, my Johnny eats everything!" That might be true, but do you have to rub it in?
When I first started making this rice a few years ago, we probably had it once a week. I've recently rediscovered it. Though I normally encourage improvisation and substitution, paella fried rice really isn't worth eating if you can't squeeze a lemon over it. The lemon makes everything else come alive.
And if your Johnny eats this up, give him a kiss for being such a good boy and don't tell me about it.
P.S. This would be delicious with some finely chopped preserved lemons on top, by the way. You've got a big old jar now, Jordan.
Paella Fried Rice
(yet another recipe adapted from The Gourmet Cookbook)
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tb. cumin seeds
1/2 ts. red pepper flakes
1 large onion, chopped
2 chopped bell peppers (I used one yellow and one red)
8 oz. chorizo or other cured spicy sausage, diced
4 c. cold cooked rice (I used brown rice because that's what was left over. And you cannot use hot freshly cooked rice.)
salt
1/2 pkg. frozen baby peas
1/3 c. toasted pumpkin seeds (toast by spreading on a baking sheet and cooking at 300 for about 8 minutes)
1 c. chopped fresh cilantro
lemon wedges
Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Add cumin and red pepper flakes, stirring for one minute. Add onion and peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chorizo, increase heat to moderately high, and cook, stirring, until sausage begins to brown, about 3 minutes.
Add rice, crumbling it to break up any lumps, and salt. Cook, stirring, until some grains of rice begin to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Add peas and cook, stirring, just heated through. Remove from heat and stir in most of pumpkin seeds and cilantro. Top each serving with a bit more cilantro and pumpkin seeds, and serve with lemon wedges.
May 6, 2009
Reader Comments (12)
So here's my question. How can you afford to keep fresh herbs around all the time? I see that you always have herbs, cilantro or parsley or rosemary or thyme or whatever. Herbs are EXPENSIVE, and I can't bring myself to pay $2 a bunch (even more for the non-leafy types) to add to a dish.
Need help!
Good question, pds. I do always have parsley and cilantro around, which I buy at MacPhersons for about 49 cents/bunch. I grow rosemary, oregano,and thyme in my yard, and they are hardy and can be picked even during much of the winter. I never purchase those plastic packaged herbs at QFC for $3. You're right--rip-off, and usually not fresh. When I do buy herbs at MacPhersons or the farmer's market, I make them last by washing and drying them right away, wrapping them in a paper towel, then putting them in a plastic bag. Then I'll be sure to use them before they wither. And one more thing--rosemary, oregano and thyme are actually pretty good dried (unlike parsley, cilantro, mint, etc.) for use in soups, meats, etc.
Honestly Sarah, I'm becoming utterly dependent on this blog. I used it to plan our week's menu --- tonight it's rice and beans (with tomato, avocado, cilantro etc) and tomorrow it'll be this paella. Thank you.
Sarah- it may be the pregnancy (doubt it!), but this looks soooo good right now! I'm curious if you have ever tried something similar with fake chorizo or another vegetarian substitute? I may give it a run and see if it plays the same role as real chorizo- but then again, maybe the pregnancy will take over and make me try the real thing...ok, probably not. :)
i realize this isn't the most accessible place for many folks, but for those in the seattle area, the spanish table on western ave ("underneath" pike place market) is a feast for the senses and would likely have some yum yums like that chorizo. it's worth a run in if you're in the area + want to be inspired to make this dish.
GREAT feedback on pds' question. i found that really helpful.
my johnny does not eat everything...in fact, her name is really pippa and she picked out all the delicately sauteed napa cabbage (a beautiful head i bought at the farmer's market on saturday) in her dinner tonight and called it 'slimy'. drat those kids. but, i LOVE the idea of paella fried rice...it's like the best of both worlds, paella + quick!
Great flavor with tofu chorizo
Delicious
Hey Sarah,
I heard through the grapevine that you can by spanish chorizo at the cental market. Unfortunatly, I think the closest one is in shoreline. Annoying yes, but its the price you pay for good chorizo.
huge shout out for this one, sarah. i was all set for a boring dinner b/c i was sure i didn't have anything, and decided to give ye olde blog a looksy. turns out i had lots of the ingredients (or substitutes i figured were close enough) for this recipe, and although any i'm sure any spaniard would be rolling in his/her grave at the thought of what i came up with being called 'paella', it was a great success in that it saved a bunch of stuff that wouldn't have gone to much good use otherwise on its own! thanks sarah!
I made this for dinner tonight and...first I have to tell you that usually I have to ask my husband if he likes something that I just cooked...but tonight he said, "Hmmmmm...I like this. Where did you get this recipe?" I calmly replied, "Sarah's blog." He then asked, "Did you write it down?" I couldn't believe he was asking me that question!!! "No, I don't have to because it's on her blog." He then continued, "You should write it down in case she stops blogging and then we won't have this recipe anymore." !!!!!! I was speechless! This may not be that big of a deal to you, but if you know how I cook (which I think you do, unfortunately), this is a HUGE deal! THANK YOU! I don't think I can ever stop praising you!
Wow! High praise, indeed! I have some cold rice in my fridge right now and paella fried rice is my plan for tomorrow night. Thanks for sharing this great story. Tell Steve I don't plan on going away anytime soon :)
You have just inspired me to do this with Soy-rizo, vegetarian style. Thanks!!