Chicken Paella with Orange

With only four more weeks to go before spring sets in, I am already feeling chirpy. As an early celebration, son and I went out for a walk this morning and returned back after an hour feeling fresh and cheery. It was so good to be out in the sun for so long.. Later, when the toddler went for his nap I cooked up this delicious citrusy chicken paella for dinner...

I adapted the recipe from the book Perfect Over Spanish a Collection of Over 100 Essential Recipe. I had cooked this paella before and had intended to write about it but then forgot until my sister asked me for a paella recipe the other day.... 

It is a gorgeous easy-to-cook one-pot-meal that can be made on a weeknight, provided you have planned it before and have an hour to spare. Else cook it up for a delicious weekend dinner and enjoy with your family and loved ones.....

Chicken Paella with Orange

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Recipe by adapted from Perfect Over Spanish a Collection of Over 100 Essential Recipes

Prep time: minimum 1 hour 15 minutes (if marinating the chicken )
Cook time: 45-60 minutes                                  Total time: minimum 2 hours including marination time
Serves : 3

Ingredients
For marination

• 2 tbsps white wine
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• ¼ tsp red chili powder or paprika
• 2 large chicken breasts

For the Paella

• ⅔ cup Paella rice (I used Arborio)
• 1 ½ tbsps olive oil
• 1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 2 medium sized tomatoes, diced
• 1 orange bell pepper, broiled, peeled and coarsely chopped
• ½ tsp red chili powder or paprika
• 1 cup cooked red kidney beans
• 1 tbsp coriander, chopped
• ½ tbsp orange rind
• 2 tbsps orange juice
• ⅓ cup white wine
• 2 ½ - 2 ¾ cup simmering chicken stock
• salt and pepper to taste
• orange wedges to serve
• chopped coriander for garnish

Cooking Directions

1. Clean the chicken breasts, butterfly them and cut into bite-sized chunks. ( After the process I had one cup of chicken strips.)
2. In a medium sized bowl, mix all the ingredients for the marinade. Put the chicken in the bowl and coat them well with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour.
3. When ready to cook, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes. Switching off the heat, drain the rice and keep aside.
4. Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed vessel.
5. Add the onions and garlic and cook till the onions become soft.
6. Add the chicken along with the marinade. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, until the juices from the chicken begin to release.
7. Now add the chopped tomatoes, half of the orange pepper and the chili powder. Mix well, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes, until the tomatoes become mushy.
8. Add the red kidney beans , mix well and cook uncovered for 2 minutes.
9. Add the semi-cooked rice and coriander. Stirring constantly, cook for a minute or so. The rice should be well coated with the oil and the vegetables.
10. Add the orange rind, orange juice and white wine and cook till most of the wine evaporates.
11. Add 2 ½ cups of the simmering chicken stock, stir well and cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
12. Add the remaining half of the orange pepper and chicken stock, taste and season with salt and pepper, stir well and cook until no liquid is left and the rice looks done.
13. Switching off the heat, cover the vessel and let stand for 5 minutes.
14. Then garnish with orange wedges and chopped coriander and serve.

p.s: The original recipe also lists saffron threads. In case you want to add it to your paella, soak ½ tsp of saffron in 2 tbsps of hot water and stir it in along with the garlic.

I shall be sharing this paella at all these food parties..

Monday 
 Mix it up Monday, The Scoop, Made with love Monday,
Marvelous Mondays @ This Gal Cooks, Recipe Sharing @ Jam Hands
Melt in your Mouth Monday, Inspiration Monday Party
Inspire Me Monday, Clever Chicks Blog Hop,
Meatless Monday :  Meatless Monday My Sweet and Savory

Tuesday 
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box,
 Tasteful Tuesday Party @ Nap Time Creations, Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home ,  Hand Made Tuesday @ Ladybug Blessings
Share it Link Party @ Winthrop Chronicles,  Tasty Tuesday @ Anyonita Nibbles,
Hearth and Soul blog Hop @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen,
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More, Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen, 

Wednesday 
What's Cooking Wednesday @ Buns in my Oven,
Cast Party Wednesday @ Lady Behind the Curtain,
Show and Share @ Semi Homemade Mom,
Wine'd Down Wednesday,
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ Mom's Test Kitchen
Wednesday, Whatsit@White Lights on Wednesday,
Wednesday Extravaganza @ Hunger Little Girl, 
Create & Share @ The Trendy Tree House,
What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar & Dots Look, 
What I Made @ Creations by Kara

Thursday
Link it Up Thursday @ Seven Alive, Fantastic Thursday @ Three Little Chiefs, 
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity,  Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage , 
 Freedom Friday @ My Turn,  Pin it Thursday @ Sweet Bella Roos

Friday 
Foodie Friday @ Simple Living and Eating,  Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie, 
Get Him Feed @ Anyonita Nibbles,  Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home,
Foodie Friday @ Not Your Ordinary Recipes,  Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm,
Weekend Wonders @ The Thriftiness Miss, Friday Food Frenzy @ Mostly Food and Crafts,
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club, The Weekend re-Treat @The Best Blog Recipes

  Fresh Foods Wednesdays, Let’s Get Real, Fight Back Fridays