How to Throw a Paella Party

If your social group is in a rut with Mexican or Italian menus when they entertain, why not ‘wow’ them with a paella party. This Spanish dish is versatile and flexible enough to have something in it for everyone.

Start with delicious red or white wine sangria and serve appetizers like Spanish tomato toast, grilled sweet peppers or roasted olives with fennel and lemon.

There are many recipe variations for paella. If someone on your guest list is allergic to seafood, you can easily find a recipe for a sausage or chicken paella online. Your guests will clean their plates when you serve this colorful and flavorful shrimp paella.

1 to 1 1/2 pounds raw extra-large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
Coarse salt
2 1/4 cups bottled clam juice or fish broth
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon crumbled thread saffron
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup uncooked Spanish or Arborio short-grain rice (do not wash)
2 large tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained (optional)
1 cup frozen peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle the shelled shrimp all over with coarse salt; let sit 15 minutes. NOTE: The salt helps bring back the natural, fresh, briny taste of the sea that most seafood (especially frozen seafood) tends to lose.

Keep the dessert simple and authentic with an orange flan. This can be made ahead and kept refrigerated, so you can relax and enjoy your party!

More recipes for a Spanish paella party, including the one above, can be found at What is Cooking America.

Tagged as: chicken paella, dry white wine, spanish dish, white wine sangria

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