Chicken Chorizo and Spinach Paella

This is a great mid week dinner as it is very quick to prepare and takes only 20 mins to cook.

The fundamentals of this dish are similar to a risotto without the intense laborious stirring and the results are a very tasty and healthy family meal.

This will become a family favourite that can be altered to add your favourite ingredients to the basis. Experiment with your cooking and you will be surprised with the results – just use ingredients you and your family like to eat and it will be a winner.

This will serve 6

500g Chicken tenderloins (cut in half)

2 Chorizo (sliced)

1 onion (finely chopped)

4 cloves garlic (crushed)

400g Arborio Rice or medium grain rice

1 red capsicum diced

3 tomatoes diced

3 shallots (sliced)

½ bunch coriander (chopped)

100g baby spinach

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp paprika

1L chicken stock or 2 chicken stock cubes

½ tsp Chilli powder (optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Put the sliced chorizo into a cold pan, and put over a low to medium flame until all the fragrant oils permeate the pan and the chorizo browns – take out of the pan leaving the oils in the pan.
2. Season the chicken with Paprika, Salt& Pepper
3. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to the pan, add the chicken and pan fry on both sides, add the capsicum and half the coriander and fry until capsicum is soft, and take out of the pan.
4. Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan and add the onions and garlic and sauté until translucent.
5. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oils.
6. Add the shallots and tomatoes, and stir for a few minutes.
7. Add the chicken stock or cubes and water to cover – season to taste (after it comes to the boil taste the liquid to check for seasoning as you cannot season properly once the rice absorbs the liquid)
8. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Add the chicken mixture and chorizo to the pan and stir through, cover and keep cooking until rice is almost cooked through.
10. Add the spinach in the last 5 minutes of cooking – stir through.

Note: this can be made into a vegetarian dish by adding more vegetables and omitting the chicken and chorizo.

Bon Apetite we Bil hana we sheffa