Jarrett's Grilled Paella

Undoubtedly, the pièce de résistance of the summer is the paella party at the Chambers.  A tradition started by Sean Gardner, this is an event with an exclusive guest list, on which you hope to fall.  Jarrett Chambers has an amazing palate.  A chemist by trade, Jarrett most certainly understands the delicate balance between art and science in the kitchen. He tastes and tweaks like a pro and is one of my go-to fellow home-chefs for cooking questions.

Jarrett is without question the paella Yoda.  When it suits him, Carolin is permitted to participate by ensuring all the ingredients are prepped to his very exact specifications (I think she is provided a special paella ruler). While impossible to recreate the magic of the evening of paella prepared in the outdoor kitchen 80 steps above LOTW, this dish is definitely worth the effort. With special permission to share, I warn that although this may be his “recipe” for paella, it is unlikely this is exactly how he makes it so good luck with the alchemy of JC’s lake-famous paella.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 medium, ripe tomatoes (about 12 ounces)
  • 16 large shrimp (about 12 ounces), peeled and deveined
  • 1 tsp smoked Spanish paprika
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces (JC says 2 lbs)
  • 8 ounces Spanish chorizo, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds (JC says 16 oz – mild and hot 50/50)
  • 1 to 2 tbsp olive oil, as needed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, small dice
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 large pinch saffron threads (JC says 2 pkgs – I think he uses more...)
  • 2 c paella rice (about 1 pound), sometimes labeled bomba or Valencia
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning the shrimp and chicken
  • 4 c (1 quart) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 16 mussels, manila clams, or a combination, scrubbed
  • 2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • 2 medium lemons, cut into 8 wedges each, for serving

Icing

SAUCE

toppings

dressing

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Core and halve the tomatoes. Grate the flesh side of each half on the large holes of a box grater set over a medium bowl, stopping when you get to the skin. Discard the skins. You should have about 3/4 cup of tomato pulp and juice; set aside.
  2. Place the shrimp in a medium bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of the paprika, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and refrigerate.
  3. Place the chicken in a medium bowl and season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.
  4. Heat an outdoor grill to high (about 450°F to 550°F). Place a 15-inch paella pan on the grill, cover, and heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add the chorizo to the pan, close the grill, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is starting to brown and the fat is rendered, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo to a large bowl; set aside.
  5. There should be a thin layer of rendered fat in the pan. If there’s not enough, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the seasoned chicken to the pan in a single layer, close the grill, and sear, stirring occasionally, until both sides of the chicken pieces are golden brown, about 6 minutes total. (You will need to rotate the pan occasionally on the grill to evenly distribute the heat.) Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to the bowl with the chorizo; set aside.
  6. Add the onion to the pan, season with salt and pepper, close the grill, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed on a gas grill or moving the paella pan to a cooler part of a charcoal grill so that the onions don’t burn. Add the garlic, remaining 3/4 teaspoon paprika, and saffron, stir to combine, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  7. Add the reserved tomato pulp and juice and cook until the mixture has slightly darkened in color, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and measured salt and stir to coat in the tomato mixture.
  8. Add the broth and stir to combine. Arrange the rice mixture in an even layer. Distribute the reserved chorizo and chicken over the rice, adding any accumulated juices from the bowl. (Do not stir the rice from this point on.)
  9. Close the grill and bring the mixture to a lively simmer. Continue to simmer, checking occasionally, until the rice grains have swelled, most of the liquid has been absorbed, and the rice begins to make a crackling sound, about 12 minutes. (Make sure to rotate the pan occasionally to evenly distribute the heat, and adjust the heat as needed to maintain a lively simmer.)
  10. Arrange the reserved shrimp and the shellfish (hinge-side down) in the rice, nestling them slightly. Close the grill and cook until the shellfish have opened, the shrimp are just cooked through, and the rice is tender but still al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  11. Remove the pan from the grill, cover with foil, and let stand for 5 minutes. Before serving the paella, discard any unopened shellfish and sprinkle the dish with the parsley. Serve with the lemon wedge

TIPS & HINTS

Jarrett puts seasoning salt on the chicken while frying, use lots of saffron and a mix of hot and mild chorizo