This is my entry to the monthly blogging event over at Maison Cupcake called Forever Nigella, this month hosted by Kat at Housewife Confidential. The theme is ‘Sea Fish and Eat It,’ which promted me to have a scour through NIgella’s books to find a fishy recipe.
We are not huge ‘paella’ fans in our family, if I am making a rice dish I would be more likely to go for a risotto. However, as it happens, I did have a bag of mixed seafood in the freezer and all the ingredients to hand to make Nigella’s ‘Pantry Paella’ so I gave it a whirl.
It is actually easier to make than a risotto as you don’t have to stand around stirring it as much.
For the kids, I confess to taking a bit out shortly before throwing the seafood in and giving it to them sans seafood as they are not really into mussles, prawns and squid just yet – though they do love fish. I also added a touch of cream to the ‘little people’ version as I felt the flavour given by the saffron may have been a little too strong for them (I think I had put a bit too much in!) and threw in some lovely runner beans I found in my veg box.
The recipes can be found either in Nigella’s book ‘Kitchen’ or here at BBC Food.
I agree with Nigella that this is a great ‘store-cupboard standby’ recipe and it would be easy to make for a get-together or a family supper.
Fabulicious Food says
>Thanks Kat and thank you for hosting!
Kat - Housewife Confidential says
>I'm loving the paella – craving it so much now I will see if I can make it for supper x
Fabulicious Food says
>Ooh now I'm jealous, I'd love to try a really authentic Spanish paella. I also think that adding chorizo would probabably add more colour and flavour to the dish. I'm definitely with you on the rose…!
thelittleloaf says
>Looks lovely! I've just got back from Spain and although I'd always classed myself as an italian food fan through and through (risotto over paella every time!) I think they just about managed to change my mind. Incredible seafood paella by the sea with a crisp cool bottle of rose? Unbeatable.