Paella

After seeing Mario Batali's Paella on Oprah, I've decided I have to make it! First it looks like I'll need to invest in a Paella pan, but after that it is a very flexible recipe where you can add as much good stuff as you want and substitute almost anything. Great for entertaining a crowd!



INGREDIENTS
10 small to medium chicken drumsticks
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups medium shrimp , enough for about 5 per person
1 medium Spanish onion , cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup pureed ripe tomatoes
1 tsp. kosher salt , or to taste
1 tsp. saffron threads
2 Tbsp. sweet pimenton (Spanish smoked paprika)
4 quarts chicken stock
2 cups bomba or other shortgrain rice
1 pound Manila clams , scrubbed
1 cup freshly shucked peas
10 spears pencil asparagus , stalks cut on the diagonal into 1/4-inch thick slices
1-inch pieces of sausage

DIRECTIONS
Preheat an oven to 400°. Place the drumsticks on a baking sheet and season all over with salt and extra-virgin olive oil. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes and set aside.

In the meantime, heat a 14- to 18-inch paella pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until smoking. Add the shrimp and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Add the onion to the pan and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Push the onions into the center of the pan and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the salt around the edges of the pan.

Add the tomato puree, stirring it into the onions, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the remaining salt, the saffron, pimentón and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir well to distribute it evenly. Add clams, drumsticks, arranging them nicely throughout the pan. Then add the peas and asparagus and bring the stock back to a boil, and cook, without stirring, for 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add it if needed, then cook, again without stirring, for 10 more minutes, or until the liquid is almost completely absorbed and the pan starts to make a crackling noise (don't worry, this is what you want).

Remove from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.