This is a sponsored post but as always, opinions and recipe are my own!

This is the only recipe you will need when you want to make a delicious and easy seafood paella that will wow your tastebuds and guests! While you’re celebrating this season, think of small and easy ways to make a difference, like choosing foods that are good for you and the planet too! Choosing MSC certified sustainable seafood is a small gesture but it has a huge impact on our oceans. Every little bit counts and if we all do a little, huge things can happen!

What is Paella?

Paella (pronounced pai·ei·uh) originated from Spain and it is a very popular dish throughout Spain still! It can include ingredients that ranges from veggies, pork, seafood, beans and more. One key ingredient that is always in paella is saffron. Saffron is a spice that is hand picked from a flower. The reason why saffron is so expensive because it is a very labour intensive method to pick the spice out of the plant. There are even claims that saffron has health benefits but most of the time, saffron used in a paella is use to give it the characteristic yellow colour!

What kind of seafood can I use in a paella?

One of the most common ingredient in a paella is seafood. The beauty of this dish is that you have so many options. For this recipe I used MSC Certified lobster from Seafront Fish Market at St.Lawrence Market. They have lots of options for MSC Certified seafood so if you are ever in Toronto, this is a place to check out! Other options include cold water shrimp, scallops and cod. If you have followed me for awhile, you know I am a huge fan of MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood. If you are not familiar with the MSC blue fish label (aka the Marine Stewardship Council) they are a global, non profit organization that is dedicated to keeping our oceans healthy and safeguarding seafood supplies for the future.

They work with scientists, fishermen, suppliers, grocery stores, and companies to make sure our oceans are being fished sustainably. You can see many seafood options in markets and grocery stores that have the little blue fish on the label. Look for that fish to ensure you are eating seafood that is certified wild, sustainable and traceable from ocean to plate. You can find a variety of seafood with the MSC blue fish label from fresh, frozen to even pet food!

If you are looking for other MSC blue fish label inspired recipe, you can check out my Seafood Tom Yum Soup and also my Thai Poached Cod recipes!

What do I cook my paella in?

A lot of people are intimidated with cooking paella because they think they don’t have the right dish. All you need is a deep pan! My favourite pan to use is my deep cast iron pan. The heat get evenly distributed so all the rice cooks evenly and at the same time. If you do use a cast iron pan, you can make it ahead of time before your guests come and you can keep the paella warm in the oven with some tinfoil.

How to store paella and can you make it ahead?

You can store left over paella in the fridge or freezer. If you are using meat and seafood, I would recommend you eat your leftover in the fridge within 2 days. If you freeze it, you can eat it months later. To reheat any frozen paella, I would thaw is out completely and you can microwave it. If you do microwave it, a trick to ensure the rice doesn’t get too dry, you can microwave your paella next to a cup of water. When you microwave the cup of water next to the paella in the microwave, it creates some steam and keeps the rice moist!

If you are making paella for a party, you could make it ahead of time and reheat it in the microwave (same method as above) when your guests arrive. I would recommend making it a little bit before your guests arrive so that the ingredients are as fresh as possible. Like I mentioned above, just keep it warm in the microwave with some tinfoil over it!