Paella on the Grill

  4.6 – 25 reviews  • Grilling
Level: Advanced
Total: 2 hr 10 min
Prep: 30 min
Inactive: 30 min
Cook: 1 hr 10 min
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

  1. One 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
  2. 1/4 cup canola oil
  3. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  4. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  5. 8 cups chicken stock
  6. 1 large pinch saffron
  7. 2 pounds clams, scrubbed
  8. 2 pounds mussels, de-bearded and scrubbed
  9. 18 colossal shrimp, tails on, peeled and deveined
  10. Two 2-pound lobsters, par-cooked in salted boiling water for about 12 minutes, drained well and halved lengthwise
  11. 15 sea scallops, patted dry
  12. 4 lemons, halved
  13. 1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
  14. 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  15. 4 cups short grain paella rice
  16. 1 pound Spanish chorizo (a cross between hard and soft), thinly sliced
  17. 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  18. 1 jar piquillo peppers, chopped or thinly sliced (6 or 8 peppers)
  19. 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

  1. Light several chimney starters filled with charcoal and let burn until the briquettes are covered with gray ash. Put the charcoal in the center of the bottom of a large kettle grill, place the grate on and cover the grill. Let heat for at least 30 minutes before cooking. 
  2. Brush the chicken with some of the canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the chicken skin-side down on the cooler part of the grill (the outer rim), to cook indirectly and slowly, and put the lid on. Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides and almost completely cooked through, about 12 minutes for breasts and 15 minutes for thighs and wings. Remove to a sheet pan. Cut the breasts into 3 or 4 pieces. 
  3. Combine the chicken stock and saffron in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer, either on the hot part of the grill or on a burner. Add the clams, cover and cook until the clams open, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the clams to a bowl. Add the mussels to the broth, cover and cook until the mussels open, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Discard any shellfish that don’t open. 
  4. Brush the shrimp, the cut sides of the lobsters, scallops, and cut sides of the lemons with some of the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper on all sides. Grill the shrimp for about 1 minute per side. Grill the lobster cut-side down until charred and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the claws and the tails but leave the shells on; discard the bodies. Grill the scallops until slightly charred and almost cooked through, about 1 minute per side. Grill the lemon cut-side down until charred, about 45 seconds. Remove all ingredients to sheet pans. 
  5. Heat 3 tablespoons canola oil in a large paella pan over direct heat. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. 
  6. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for a few minutes. Begin adding the stock 1 cup at a time and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice is al dente, about 25 minutes. 
  7. Arrange the chicken, clams mussels, shrimp, scallop, peas, lobster and piquillo peppers in the rice. Squeeze the juice from 4 of the lemon halves over the top, and nestle the 4 other halves in the rice. Scatter the parsley over the top. Stir gently to bring some of the rice up from the bottom, and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 10 servings
Calories 893
Total Fat 44 g
Saturated Fat 13 g
Carbohydrates 26 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugar 5 g
Protein 95 g
Cholesterol 422 mg
Sodium 2689 mg

Reviews

Diana Washington
Love this.  Made it for my son’s birthday and we all loved.  Easy to follow.  I couldn’t believe I got that nice crust on the bottom of the pan.  Invest in a good paella pan it makes all the difference!
Susan Bush
I’ve made this 6 times and we absolutely love it. Bobby Flay’s directions and techniques are spot on. Of course, this is an American version of authentic paella, but if you’re ok with that, this is a great recipe. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Mary Matthews
If you want to make traditional paella, do not add chorizo FYI!
Nicholas Trevino
Loved it. What a great family gathering meal that everyone can enjoy. Was my first attempt at making a paella and it has now become a staple for family gatherings.
Mark Smith
Can this be done on a gas grill as well?  If yes, do you light all burners or just the side ones?
Mrs. Mary Rivas
I’d definitely add smoked paprika (pimenton dulce) to be authentic.  Of course, the Americanized version of paella (mixing meat with seafood) is not authentic (in Valencia, it would be sacrilege) and Bobby’s technique is not authentic, but he at least gives a nod to the “soccarat” at the end.  And the dish was very good.  
Stephen Mcclure
Can’t find the paella rice, 

Or any short grain rice works? 
Karen Owens
I cant find piquillo peppers.  Can you use roasted red peppers?a
Amy Jackson MD
what can you use if you don’t have a paella pan? (live on a remote military base with limited supplies, but lots of lobsters)Thank you!
Teresa Wright
This recipe is phenomenal…perfect for any ocassion to wow. You can cook this in much smaller batches and on the stove and it’s still awesome. Totally worth all the work, wouldn’t change a thing!

 

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