Cedar Planked Paella Kabobs
Cedar Planked Paella Kabobs
This out-of-the-box recipe came from the mind of a person so obsessed with outdoor cooking that I grill 4-5 days a week! This contest inspired me! I conceived a sort of deconstructed Paella with all of the protein being grilled on skewers instead of simmering in a pan with the rice. I skewered up Johnsonville Brats (cut into smaller chunks) with seasoned chicken, shrimp and lobster, then grilled them on cedar planks along with littleneck clams! I prepared the rice using very traditional techniques and ingredients, including more Johnsonville brats, casing removed and browned just before I made the sofrito. Enjoy!
Ingredients
-
MEAT:
-
6
links
JOHNSONVILLE® Brats (raw)
-
4
small
lobster tails (about one pound total)
-
1
pound
jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
-
4
boneless, skinless chicken thighs
-
12
little neck clams (washed and scrubbed)
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SPICE MIX:
-
6
tablespoons
Mexican oregano
-
4
tablespoons
paprika
-
1
tablespoon
sea salt
-
1
tablespoon
fresh ground pepper
-
RICE (OPTIONAL):
-
1/4
cup
extra virgin olive oil
-
2
links
JOHNSONVILLE® Brats (raw)
-
1
medium
sweet white onion
-
1
bunch
flat leaf parsley
-
4
cloves
minced garlic
-
1
can
(14 ounces) diced tomatoes
-
4
cups
short grain rice (I used Aborio)
-
6
cups
chicken broth
-
1
tablespoon
Asian fish sauce
-
1/4
cup
frozen peas
-
1
large pinch
saffron threads
REVIEWS
Directions
MEAT: Cut the meat according to the size of the shrimp, which should be left whole. The goal is to get these different kinds of meat to finish cooking at the same time. So, dice lobster into roughly the same size as the shrimp and cut the chicken into slightly smaller sizes. Cut brats (casings on) into about 1 inch pieces.
SPICE MIX: Mix well and set aside three tablespoons of spice mix for dusting the assembled kabobs prior to cooking.
Add chicken and spice mix in bowl, coat well then cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
TO ASSEMBLE KABOBS: Skewer meat on metal skewers, placing a chunk of Johnsonville® brat after every third placement. In other words, brat, shrimp, chicken, brat, lobster, chicken, brat, etc... This way, as the goodness in the brat renders down, it will baste the rest of the kabob. Lightly dust the assembled kabobs with the reserved spice mix and refrigerate.
RICE (OPTIONAL STEPS 5 to 8): In a large pan heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil on medium heat, then add 2 chopped Johnsonville® Brats, cases removed and sauté until browned. Remove brats and set aside.
Make sofrito by adding 1 diced sweet white onion to pan along with one bunch of chopped flat leaf parsley and 4 cloves of minced garlic. Sauté until the onion is transparent, then add one 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes, stir well. Sauté these ingredients until caramelized.
Slowly add 4 cups of short grain rice (I used Aborio) making sure the grains get coated with sofrito. Then slowly add 6 cups of chicken broth, stirring as liquid is added. Add 1 tablespoon of Asian fish sauce (to compensate for the fact that the shrimp and lobster are not being cooked with the rice).
Return browned brats and add 1/4 cup frozen peas and a large pinch of saffron threads. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.