450g / 1 lb live mussels
4 tbsp olive oil
6 medium chicken thighs
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
225g / 8 oz tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
125g / 4 oz frozen peas
1 tsp paprika
450g / 1 Ib arborio rice
1/2 tsp turmeric
900ml / 1 1/2 pints chicken stock, warmed
175g / 6 oz large peeled prawns
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 limes
1 lemon
1 tbsp freshly chopped basil
whole cooked unpeeled prawns, to garnish |
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Rinse the mussels under cold running water, scrubbing well to remove any grit and
barnacles, then pull off the hairy 'beards'. Tap any open mussels sharply with a knife, and discard
if they refuse to close. Heat the oil in a paella pan or large, heavy-based frying pan and cook the
chicken thighs for 10-15 minutes until golden. Remove and keep warm.
Fry the onion and garlic in the remaining oil in the pan for 2-3 minutes, then add
the tomatoes, peppers, peas and paprika and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add the rice to the pan
and return the chicken with the turmeric and half the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer,
gradually adding more stock as it is absorbed. Cook for 20 minutes, or until most of the stock has
been absorbed and the rice is almost tender.
Put the mussels in a large saucepan with 5cm / 2 in boiling salted water, cover and
steam for 5 minutes. Discard any with shells that have not opened, then stir into the rice with the
prawns. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat through for 2-3 minutes until piping hot.
Squeeze the juice from 1 of the limes over the paella. Cut the remaining limes and the lemon into
wedges and arrange on top of the paella. Sprinkle with the basil, garnish with the prawns and
serve.
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