Quick Paella
Chicken, sausage and shrimp paella
Preparation time: About 20 minutes
Microwaving time: About 39 minutes
Garnish this classic Spanish dish with chopped green onions and fresh cilantro leaves, if you like.
4 large chicken drumsticks (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs. total)
Salt, black pepper, and paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil or salad oil
3/4 pound linguisa sausage or kielbasa (Polish sausage), cut into 1/4-inch-thick slanting slices
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/8 teaspoon each ground saffron and ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/2 teaspoon each dry basil and dry oregano leaves
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 cups regular-strength chicken broth
1 1/4 cups long-grain white rice
16 medium-large raw shrimp (about 1/2 lb. total), shelled (leave tails attached) and deveined
Rinse chicken and pat dry. Lightly sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and paprika; set aside.
Preheat a 2- to 2 1/2-quart or 10-inch square microwave browning dish on HIGH (100%) for 4 1/2 minutes. Using oven mitts, carefully remove dish to a heatproof surface. Add oil and swirl dish to coat bottom. Quickly add chicken, rounded side down, in a single layer. Wait until sizzling stops; then turn chicken over and arrange with thickest parts toward outside of dish. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100%) for 8 minutes, giving dish a half-turn after 4 minutes. Lift out chicken; set aside.
Add sausage, garlic, and bell pepper to dish; turn to coat with drippings. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100%) for 3 minutes. If desired, transfer sausage mixture and drippings to a shallow 2 1/2- to 3-quart microwave-safe serving dish.
Add saffron, ground red pepper, basil, oregano, wine, broth, and rice to sausage mixture. Set chicken on top. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100%) for 20 minutes or until rice has absorbed all liquid, giving dish a half-turn after 10 minutes.
Push shrimp into rice. Cover; microwave on HIGH (100%) for 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: 772 calories, 46 g protein, 51 g carbohydrates, 41 g total fat, 212 mg cholesterol, 1,447 mg sodium
