INGREDIENTS
olive oil, for cooking
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp salt, or to taste
2 tomatoes medium sized, cubed and seeded (or 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved), or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
2 tbsp pimenta moida, Portuguese hot pepper paste
1 can tomato paste, 5.5 oz
2 cups parboiled rice
4 cups water, plus juice from 1 can of canned clams (optional)
2 cups mixed seafood of choice, shrimp, scallops, canned clams (142 gram can, liquid reserved), imitation crab
¼ cup parsley, chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare seafood of choice. Peel and devein shrimp. If using canned clams, strain juice and set aside. Chop imitation crab meat into cubes. If using scallops slice in half or use bay scallops and keep whole.
In a large pot, add in olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic until slightly tender. Add in paprika and salt and continue to sauté.
Add in tomatoes and continue to sauté on medium heat until they are softened pressing on them gently.
Stir in hot pepper paste and sauté for 1 minute. Feel free to add additional hot pepper paste if you prefer a spicier rice.
Stir in tomato paste and sauté for 1 minute.
Add in the rice and sauté for another minute until all rice is coated in the tomato mixture.
Pour in the water and the reserved clam juice, if using. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat for approximately 8 – 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, mix in the seafood and stir until evenly incorporated. Add in the vegetables. Cover and continue to simmer on low heat until any uncooked seafood and rice is completely cooked, approximately 5 minutes. You may add additional water at this point if needed.
Stir in fresh chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!
NOTES
Here are a few tips when making this rice:
• While the rice is cooking, stir the rice a couple of times. Even though the rice is cooking on low, you still run the risk of the rice sticking to the pot. The occasional stir will help keep this from happening.
• The end result is very much a personal preference. Some people like it a little dryer and fluffy while some like it a little wetter. Once the rice is cooked, you can add a couple of tablespoons of water if you prefer more moisture.• If you like seeing more pieces of tomato in your rice, feel free to add in more. You can also substitute with canned whole or diced tomatoes.
