Spanish Seafood Paella (Printable)

A vibrant Spanish saffron rice dish with shrimp, mussels, clams, and sweet peppers.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 12 mussels, scrubbed and debearded
03 - 12 clams, scrubbed

→ Rice

04 - 1 1/2 cups short-grain paella rice (e.g., Bomba or Arborio)

→ Aromatics & Vegetables

05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
07 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium tomato, grated or finely chopped

→ Broth & Seasonings

10 - 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
11 - 4 cups fish or seafood stock
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Method:

01 - Warm fish or seafood stock in a saucepan and infuse with saffron threads. Keep warm over low heat.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large paella pan or wide skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 2 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
03 - Add sliced red and green bell peppers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in grated tomato and cook until most liquid evaporates.
04 - Add rice, stirring to coat with oil and vegetables. Sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper evenly over the mixture.
05 - Pour warm saffron-infused stock evenly over the rice without stirring thereafter. Arrange shrimp, mussels, and clams on top.
06 - Cover loosely with foil or lid and cook over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until rice is tender and shellfish have opened. Discard any unopened shellfish.
07 - Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
08 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve accompanied by lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • One pan holds everything, so cleanup feels almost civilized.
  • The saffron turns ordinary rice into something that tastes like celebration.
  • Seafood cooks perfectly while nestled in the rice, staying tender instead of rubbery.
  • It's elegant enough for guests but honest enough for a family Thursday.
02 -
  • Never stir after you pour in the stock—I learned this the hard way when my first paella turned into rice soup, and it broke my heart.
  • If a mussel or clam doesn't open, toss it without guilt; that's the one thing your instinct should always override the recipe for.
  • The saffron has to steep in warm liquid first, or it stays bitter and wasted instead of becoming this gentle golden silk.
03 -
  • Make sure your stock is warm when it hits the rice—cold stock drops the pan temperature and makes everything cook unevenly.
  • Buy your seafood the same day you cook, and ask the fishmonger to check that the mussels and clams are alive and responsive.
Return