This Korean fusion style paella with kimchi, shirmp, and chorizo sausage is an impressive one skillet meal for everyone. Use well fermented kimchi and whole shrimp for the best flavor.

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp Paella-A

If someone is asking me today to choose one country that I would like to travel, it would be Spain.

I might choose a different country tomorrow but for today? It is definitely Spain.

When I think of Spain, Paella comes next. (Can’t resist not to think of food)  Paella is a famous Spanish rice dish cooked with various meat and/or seafood in one pan. Saffron is often added to give the irresistible golden color and a hint of flavor to the dish.

The idea of making my Spanish-Korean fusion style Paella came up very unexpectedly.

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp Paella-

I had bought some large tiger prawns a while ago and kept them in the freezer. I was taking them out thinking of making shrimp tempura for dinner. As I was shutting my freezer door, a small packet of frozen sausage fell off on my foot. (Ouch! that hurts!!) I picked it up. It was the Chorizo sausages. I had large tiger prawns on one hand and a packet of Chorizo sausage on the other. I turned around, and there was a container of very fermented kimchi on my counter that I was going to fry up to make something.  With all these 3 ingredients in my sight? Sayonara (goodbye) to the shrimp tempura and Hola (Hello) to Paella!

The result was outstanding. I am so glad that the Chorizo sausage fell off on me accidentally. The dinner was satisfying and I am sitting down here to share with you how I made my fusion paella – with a Korean touch!

 

kimchi paellaHere is the accidental love affair! kimchi (very very fermented if possible), chorizo sausages, and jumbo shrimps.

 

kimchi paella-2For the rice, it is best to use medium grain but all I had was Korean style short grain. There are times in life you just have to make the best out of what you got when you don’t have everything.

Rinse your rice until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.

 

kimchi paella-3Here is my chosen shrimp guy for a demonstration.

I want to use the whole shrimp to bring the full flavor in the dish but I know my family won’t like to peel the shrimp shells as they are eating. (and I bet you don’t either)  So this is what I did. Using a toothpick I poked under the first notch of the shrimp back and pull out the gunk to devein.

 

kimchi paella-4Then I peel the shell off the body part only. The shrimp head holds lots of flavor that you want to keep while cooking. By peeling off the shell on the body, the body meat will fall off effortlessly from the head.

Poor guy.., he looks a little shy for being naked.

 

kimchi paella-6Now, heat a paella pan or shallow skillet with some olive oil. Saute chopped onion and garlic until soft.

 

kimchi paella-7Add chopped kimchi and chorizo sausage and continue to cook for 3-5 minutes.

 

kimchi paella-9Add the rice and toss around.

 

kimchi paella-10Stir in chicken stock,

 

kimchi paella-11crushed tomatoes,

 

kimchi paella-12paprika, and a bay leaf. If you have some saffron (and don’t mind using in this recipe), this is a good time to add.

 

kimchi paella-13Stir to combine and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low. And NO MORE STIRRING at this point. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half.

 

kimchi paella-14Place your naked shrimps in your artistic manner. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.

 

kimchi paella-15Turn your shrimp to the other side and simmer for another 3-5 minutes.

 

kimchi paella-16I like to push the shrimp gently to bury in the rice just a little. I added some frozen peas to let the world know that I don’t forget to eat my greens…

 

kimchi paella-18They are cooking up very nicely.

 

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp PaellaToward the end you will see the liquid is pretty much absorbed by rice and you need to either sense or smell the rice getting toasty on the bottom crust part of paella. When your rice is tender and the shrimp is fully cooked, sprinkle some fresh parsley if you have. And serve this flavorful fusion dish hot off the pan.

 

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp Paella-C

This is very satisfying dish, guys. The subtle tomato flavor binds kimchi and chorizo up very nicely. The bottom had a nice socarrat crust that I always love from paella. Since I used the short grain, the texture of rice is a little stickier than I hoped for, but still tasty.

The possibilities of making a delicious dish with kimchi is abundant. If you have lots of fermented cabbage kimchi in your fridge, Try this paella fusion. You won’t regret.

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp Paella-

Kimchi Chorizo Shrimp Paella

This Korean fusion style paella with kimchi, shirmp, and chorizo sausage is an impressive one skillet meal for everyone. Use well fermented kimchi and whole shrimp for the best flavor.
5 from 1 rating

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic finely chopped
  • 1 cup short grain rice, rinsed a few times and drained
  • 1 cup chopped sour kimchi
  • 1/2 lb about 200g Chrorizo sausage, sliced
  • 8 jumbo prawns or 10-12 large prawns
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions 

  • Devein the shrimp by using a toothpick and peel the shell off the body but keep the head part intact. Set aside.
  • Heat oil in the paella pan or shallow pan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes.
  • Add kimchi and chorizo and saute for another 3 minutes. Add the rice and toss all together.
  • Pour in the chicken stock and the crushed tomato, bay leaf, and paprika; stir together and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the whole thing to simmer for 10-15 minutes until the liquid is reduced less than half. Do not stir.
  • Place shrimps on the top and continue to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Turn the shrimp to the other side and sprinkle peas around the pan; continue to simmer another 3-5 minutes.
  • When you see the most liquid is absorbed by the rice, and smell the rice getting toasty on the bottom, the paella is done. (rice should be tender yet chewy, and the shrimps are fully cooked) Sprinkle fresh parsley over and serve hot off the pan.
Did you make this recipe?Tag @beyondkimchee on Instagram. I love to see your masterpiece.