Spanish Seafood Paella (Printable)

Saffron-infused rice with shrimp, mussels, clams, and bell peppers for a colorful main dish.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Warm the fish or seafood stock in a saucepan and add saffron threads. Keep warm over low heat.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large paella pan or wide skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 2 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
03 - Add red and green bell peppers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in the tomato and cook until most liquid evaporates.
04 - Add rice to the pan, stirring to coat with oil and vegetables. Sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper evenly over the mixture.
05 - Pour the warm saffron-infused stock over the rice, distributing it evenly. Avoid stirring from this point onward.
06 - Place shrimp, mussels, and clams on top of the rice. Cover loosely with foil or a lid and cook over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes until rice is tender and shellfish have opened. Discard any shellfish that remain closed.
07 - Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • One pan, one moment of magic—everything cooks together and nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
  • The saffron turns ordinary rice into something that smells like a Spanish seaside, even in your own kitchen.
  • Impressing people becomes easy; they'll taste the effort even though you're barely stirring.
02 -
  • Once you pour in the stock, do not stir—this is the hardest lesson to learn, but stirring creates mush instead of paella; trust the pan to know what to do.
  • The socarrat is the crispy, golden rice that forms on the bottom of the pan, and it's not a mistake—listen for a gentle crackling sound and let it happen, then stop cooking immediately so it doesn't burn.
03 -
  • Buy a proper paella pan if you can; the wide, shallow design is designed for this exact dish, and it makes a real difference in how evenly the rice cooks.
  • Rest your finished paella for those 5 minutes even if you're hungry; it's when the magic happens and everything becomes one unified thing instead of separate ingredients.
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