Fideuà (Catalan Seafood Noodle Dish)

Ingredients

• 14 oz short vermicelli noodles (fideos)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 8 oz squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
• 8 oz large shrimp, peeled, shells reserved
• 8 oz mussels, scrubbed
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, grated
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp saffron threads
• 4 cups fish or seafood stock
• Salt to taste
• Garlic aioli and lemon wedges, for serving

Before you cook

• Clean and slice the squid into rings.
• Peel the shrimp, reserving the shells.
• Scrub the mussels and discard any that don't close.
• Finely chop the onion and grate the tomatoes.

Steps

1. Simmer the reserved shrimp shells in the stock for 10 minutes, then strain and keep the stock hot.
2. Heat half the olive oil in a wide, shallow pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add the noodles and toast them, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 4 minutes.
4. Remove the toasted noodles and set them aside.
5. Add the remaining oil to the pan and sauté the onion for 5 minutes until soft.
6. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
7. Add the grated tomato and smoked paprika and cook for 5 minutes until thickened.
8. Crumble in the saffron and stir for 30 seconds.
9. Add the squid and shrimp and cook for 2 minutes.
10. Return the toasted noodles to the pan and spread them evenly.
11. Pour in the hot stock and bring to a boil.
12. Nestle the mussels into the noodles, cover, and cook for 8 minutes without stirring.
13. Uncover and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom turns crisp.
14. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving with aioli and lemon wedges.