Recipe: Quinoa Paella with Chicken and Chorizo

QUINOA PAELLA WITH CHICKEN AND CHORIZO

"I'm sure that a traditional Spanish cook would find it odd to make a paella based on quinoa, but the concept works well. More important, it tastes good."

1 pound boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika or other paprika
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup finely chopped dry-cured chorizo
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup thin strips roasted red bell pepper, preferably fire-roasted
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a heavy 3-quart Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat.

Brown the chicken pieces, using tongs to turn, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Turn off the heat and let the pan cool for a minute. Stir the paprika, garlic, and red pepper flakes into the hot oil in the pot.

Stir the broth into the pot, taking care to scrape up any browned bits sticking to the bottom. Blend in the tomato paste, and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the quinoa and chorizo. Cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 12 minutes.

Add salt to taste. Stir in the chicken. Cover and cook over low heat until the quinoa is done - it should have no opaque white dot in the center - and the chicken is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. If the mixture seems dry and the chicken or quinoa is not thoroughly cooked, stir in a little more broth or some water, cover, and cook a few minutes longer.

Stir in the peas and roasted red pepper. Cover and let sit for 1 minute. Stir in the parsley just before serving.

VARIATIONS:
- Use cooked chicken or turkey; skip the browning step and simply stir it in for the last few minutes of cooking.
- Add 6 ounces peeled, medium shrimp; stir them in for the last few minutes of cooking.

Makes 4 servings
Used by permission to Recipelink.com from Random House
Source:Whole Grains for Busy People: Fast, Flavor-Packed Meals and More for Everyone by Lorna Sass