Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Paella
Makes 4 to 6 servings:
Broth
- 1 cup 1/2-inch-diced yellow onion
- 1-1/2 tablespoons thinly sliced garlic
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 3 to 4 ounces each
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large hot Italian sausages, about 6 ounces each
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1-1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 pound medium shrimp (about 15), shell on and deveined
- 1 tablespoon roughly chopped Italian parsley
1. Fill a chimney starter to the rim with charcoal and burn the charcoal
until it is lightly covered with ash. Spread the charcoal in a tightly packed,
single layer across one-half of the charcoal grate. Put the cooking grate in
place, close the lid, and let the grill preheat for 10 minutes. Leave all the
vents open.
2. In a medium ovenproof saucepan over direct high
heat, cook the onion and garlic with the oil until the onion is
translucent but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the tomato
paste, bay leaf, paprika, and oregano. Stir with the onion for about 1 minute.
Add the chicken broth, salt, and saffron. Cover the saucepan. When the liquid
comes to a boil, remove the lid and slide the saucepan toward the middle of the
cooking grate. Cook at a simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Cover
the saucepan and carefully set aside, off the grill, while you grill the chicken
and sausages.
3. Lightly coat the chicken on both sides with 2 tablespoons
of the olive oil. Season evenly with the salt and pepper. Brush the cooking
grate clean. Grill the chicken over direct high
heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until
lightly charred on both sides but still a little undercooked, 4 to 6 minutes,
turning once and swapping their positions as needed for even cooking. At the
same time, grill the sausages over indirect high
heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until
firm, 8 to12 minutes, turning occasionally and swapping their positions as
needed for even cooking. Move the chicken and sausages to a cutting board and
chop into 3/4-inch pieces.
4. At this point, to cook the paella, you may need to add more
charcoal to the fire for high heat.
5. When the fire is ready, place a
12-inch, cast-iron pan over direct high heat. Add the
remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and, when it is warmed but not
at smoking point, add the bell peppers. Cook in the hot oil, stirring from time
to time, until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add about 5 cups of broth
to the pan. Scatter the rice around the entire area of the pan, making sure that
all of it is immersed in the broth. Slide the pan to the part of the cooking
grate where the liquid will simmer slowly. Cover the grill and let the rice cook
for 15 minutes, rotating the pan once or twice for even cooking.
6. Bury the chicken and sausages in the rice and broth. If the
rice looks dry, add the remaining broth. Stir once to make sure the rice is not
sticking to the pan. Cover the grill again and let the paella cook until the
rice is al dente, about 10 minutes longer, rotating the pan once.
7. Then bury the shrimp in the rice, stir briefly, close the
grill’s lid again, and cook until the shrimp are barely done and the rice at the
bottom turns a little crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully remove the pan from the
grill. Garnish with chopped parsley. Taste the rice and, if necessary, add salt
and pepper to taste. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.