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Paella

⏱ ~130 min (est.)InvolvedSeafoodSpanish
Paella

Raw tiger prawns, parsley and dry sherry come together in this Spanish seafood — 130 minutes, 19 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 19 steps.

You'll mainly reach for pan and large pot. At involved difficulty across 19 steps, it's worth setting aside proper time for.

What you'll need

Servings4

Shopping list (10)

Pantry staples (you likely have these)

🔁 Unit converter
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How to make it

  1. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wide, shallow pan.
  2. Add the prawn heads and parsley stalks and sizzle until the heads turn pink, then mash with a potato masher.
  3. Pour over the sherry or wine and 300ml water, season with salt and simmer for 10 mins to make a stock, mashing the prawn heads as they cook.
  4. Scatter the mussels into the pan, cover the pan loosely with a lid or tea towel, then put over a high heat for 3-4 mins until the mussels just open.
  5. Stir to release the mussel juices, then pour the contents of the pan into a colander set over a large bowl containing the saffron.
  6. Let the saffron steep in the stock – you will need 700ml in total, so top up with water if needed and give everything a good stir.
  7. Pick the mussels out from the colander, then set aside.
  8. Wipe out the pan and add the rest of the olive oil.
  9. Sizzle the chorizo until it releases its oil, then add the onion and garlic and cook until softened.
  10. Add the squid and turn over until it turns white.
  11. Add the tomatoes and cook down for a minute, then pour over most of the stock, give everything a good stir and bring to the boil.
  12. Scatter the rice over the stock, stir well once, then boil vigorously for 5 mins.
  13. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and slowly simmer for 10 mins without stirring until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.
  14. Tuck the prawn tails into the rice and simmer for 5 mins, turning them over until cooked through.
  15. Stir through the mussels and broad beans or peas.
  16. Taste the rice – if it is still a little raw but the pan is dry, add a splash more stock and continue to cook; if it’s too soupy, then increase the heat to cook off the last of the stock.
  17. Once the rice is just cooked, turn off the heat and cover with a tea towel for a few minutes.
  18. Scatter over the parsley leaves and lemon zest, then season with smoked salt if you like.
  19. Stir everything once, then serve straight from the pan, with lemon wedges on the side.

You'll use: Pan · Large pot · Saucepan

Watch how it's made

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Ingredient substitutions

Lemon
lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon

What to serve with Paella

Tips & common questions

How long does Paella take to make?

About 130 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 19 steps and 14 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of lemon?

Try lime. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

How should I store leftovers?

Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.

Recipe data for Paella via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.