How to cook an express paella

The other day I was in the situation of wanted to prepare paella the traditional way but forgot to get half the ingredients I needed. So this is a good way to fake it a little

Get your ingredients ready. I added chicken because I had it in the fridge and I didn't want to waste it. You can do this all seafood or all meat with all types of it

Chop the onion and add it to the pan with the garlic. I don't have a proper paella pan but any large one can work too

When it's cooked, add the chicken

When the chicken is done, add the seafood until it's unfrozen. Usually this type of seafood comes already cooked in the bag. If not, unfreeze and cook

Add the vegs

When everything is ready, add a few bay leaves and stir

Then add the rice. Ideally it should be short grain but I only had basmati so that had to do!

Add the food colorant and stir everything. I get this colorant from my family in Spain or Spanish shops. It has no flavor, it's not paprika, it's only for the yellow colour

Add the chicken stew cubes already dissolved in hot water and top up with extra water if necessary. You can add the salt here

Let it cook until the rice is done. I found I had to keep an eye to top it up with water as it cooked

And here you go! I also find a bit of lemon squeezed on the rice gives it an excellent extra taste. Enjoy!