Syn Free Paella

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
568ml/1pint chicken stock made with Bovril
227g/8oz tomatoes, skinned and chopped
340g/12oz long grain rice
a few strands of saffron or ½ tsp powdered saffron
113g/4oz raw tiger prawns
57g/2oz thin green beans, trimmed and halved
113g/4oz cooked chicken, skinned and diced
170g/ 6oz live mussels
1 red pepper
sea salt amd freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsps chopped parsley

Method

1. Put the onion, garlic and 284ml/½ pint of the stock in a heavy, deep frying pan. Cover, bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes. Simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes, until the onions are tender and golden. Stir in the tomatoes and rice and cook gently for 2-3 minutes.
2. Bring the remaining chicken stock to the boil and add to the pan with the saffron. Simmer gently for about 20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy and tender. Ten minutes before the end of cooking time, add the prawns, green beans and chicken.
3. Meanwhile, scrub the mussels under running water, discarding any that are cracked or open. Pop them into a pan with a little boiling water, cover with a lid and cook over a high heat, shaking occasionally, until the mussels open. Throw away any that fail to open.
4. Grill the red pepper under a preheated grill until charred, then remove the skin and seeds. Cut the flesh into thin strips. Season the paella with salt and pepper to taste and serve garnished with the mussels and red pepper strips, sprinkled with parsley.

Serves 4

Syn free on extra easy