Traditional Spanish paella gets kicked up with the smoke and flames of the grill in this recipe from the spice and dry rub experts at Spiceologist!

GRILLED PAELLA

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs, at room temperature
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cups water
1 large pinch saffron threads
1 pound mussels, scrubbed and picked over
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 large onion, diced
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound *Spanish Chorizo (or Linguica if you can't find chorizo), see chefs note below
2 cups long grain white rice
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 3" pieces
15 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons hot paprika
salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Additional Tools

Paella Pan

Instructions

1. Heat the BBQ (if using charcoal, allow to preheat for at least 30 minutes).  
2. Brush chicken thighs with olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt and pepper on both sides.  Place skin side down on the grill and cook until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  Remove to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.  Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, add the shrimp and smoked paprika and toss to coat.  Place shrimp on the grill and cook just until no longer pink, about 1 minute per side.  Remove to a bowl and cover to keep warm.  Set aside.
4. In a medium saucepan, with a heat resistant handle, add the 4 cups water and saffron, place over the flame of the grill until it begins to simmer.  Add the mussels and cover.  Cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes.  Removed them from the water and place in a bowl, cover and set aside.  Reserve the cooking water.
5. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large paella pan over direct heat.  Add the onion and cook until translucent and soft, about 10 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.  Add the chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally, 5-8 minutes.  Add the rice and asparagus and cook, cook stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.  Add the crushed tomato, the saffron water, hot paprika and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and stir to combine.  Discontinue stirring from this point forward.  Allow the rice to cook for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan on the flame if you have hot spots on your grill.  Taste the rice, once al dente, arrange the chicken thighs, shrimp, and mussels in the rice.  Allow to cook 5-10 minutes longer.  Remove from the grill and sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

*Chefs Note: Spanish Chorizo is different than Mexican Chorizo.  Spanish chorizo is a semi-hard consistency similar to Portuguese linguica which makes it a suitable substitution if you are unable to find Spanish Chorizo.  Mexican Chorizo, often sold in plastic casing, is a wet, almost fluid style of chorizo and would not be appropriate for this dish.

Recipe courtesy of the spice and rub experts at Spiceologist