The Perfect Rice Recipe (Spanish Paella)

Shrimp Stock:

1. Place shrimp shells in a medium-size pot along with onion, bay leaves, and water; place on the stove, bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce the temperature to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until flavored to your liking.
2. Strain it through a fine-mesh sieve and reserve.

Paella:

1. First, prepare your lobster tails. Cut along the center top of the shell, then cut each of the ribbings on the underside and gently split open the top so it exposes the meat. Remove the vein that runs through the center (if it’s there) then take your knife and slice straight down the middle and press aggressively down on the back of your knife to split the lobster cleanly in half. Repeat with other tail.
2. Grease a medium-size pot with spray oil, add chicken thighs, sear them for about three minutes, occasionally tossing until you get some nice color (no need to cook them all the way through).
3. Remove the chicken; add chicken and shrimp stock, heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil, turn it down to low and add saffron (lightly crushed).
4. In a 15” paella pan (or saute pan), heat up olive oil over medium heat; once it begins to shimmer, add chorizo, cook it until the chorizo starts to get a little crispy and its fat render; next, add your sofrito, consisting on a mixture of onion, bell pepper, and garlic, all tossed together.
5. Season generously with salt and pepper, saute for three to four minutes or until softened, then add diced tomatoes, bay leaf, and smoked paprika. Season a taste with salt and cook that down, often stirring until almost all the liquid is gone, about three minutes.
6. Then add white wine and let it simmer until the majority reduces, about five to eight minutes. Add your chicken back, stir until the chicken is hot, add “bomba” rice, mix, allow the rice to toast for about one minute, and slowly pour in your hot saffron broth. Gently shake the pan to even up the rice, let it come to a simmer over medium-low, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes. (if a lot of the liquid evaporates, add another cup or so of water and simmer for 15 - 18 minutes)
7. Add your lobster tails, arranging them in a pattern like this and nestling them into your rice, flesh side down; then nestle your shrimps all around the rice, finally nestle your cleaned littleneck clams. Cook it for another 5-8 minutes.
8. Once it looks like there is anymore liquid bubbling and starts to smell a little toasted on the bottom of the pan, cut the heat and cover with foil for 10-12 minutes. (if the lobster has not finished cooking, place the pan covered in the oven at 350F for 5-8 minutes.)
9. Remove the foil, drizzle some olive oil, scatter around some lemon cheeks, and finish it with fresh, flat parsley leaves.