VALENTINES PAELLA FOR TWO

- METHOD -

Fry the chorizo sausage in the olive oil for a minute, then remove the chorizo. Add the onion to the same pan and fry over low heat until soft – take care not to brown or burn the onions. Add the garlic and the rice and stir-fry for a minute.  Add the white wine and cook for a minute, then add the water along with the Peri Peri Rub, smoked paprika, turmeric and salt.

Add the chorizo back to the pan, place the lid on and cook on very low heat for ten minutes. Add the white fish after ten minutes and continue cooking for five minutes. Then add the prawns and cook for a further five minutes. Finally add the mussels – it should take only about five minutes for the mussels to cook through. Stir and taste, and if the dish needs a bit of salt adjust accordingly. (Cook’s note: total cooking time for this dish is about 25 minutes. The seafood is added in sequence, according to how long the specific ingredient takes to cook. If the rice needs another minute or two to become soft once all the seafood is added, simply cook it for a further minute or two. If it needs more moisture, add water, but only a tablespoon or two – you don’t want watery paella!)

If cooked incorrectly calamari easily becomes tough, so we recommend it be cooked separately, very fast over very high heat. To cook the calamari, dust the rings liberally with our Cape Herb & Spice Portuguese Peri Peri rub. Heat a large non-stick pan and add three Tbsp of vegetable oil. Once the oil is very hot, pop in the calamari rings and stir-fry over high heat until done – it takes only about two minutes. Taste it and if it is cooked through but not yet rubbery it’s ready to come off the heat right away. Add the peas and calamari to the rest of the paella, stir through and you’re ready to serve. Garnish liberally with finely chopped coriander and serve with lemon wedges.

Recipe concept & photography by Lizet Hartley.

Lizet Hartley is a freelance stills and reel food stylist, food photographer and recipe developer. In her spare time she – rather predictably – cooks. Get more of her recipes on her blog at http://www.melkkos-merlot.co.za