PRIMAVERA RECIPES: Seafood Primavera . . . Paella Primavera

Seafood Primavera

1 16-ounce package dried thin wheat flour noodles

Salt

4 tablespoons peanut oil

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon plus 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch

¾ cup homemade chicken stock or reduced-salt canned chicken broth

3 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry

2 tablespoons each sesame oil and oyster sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon each sugar, light soy sauce, rice vinegar and Chinese chili oil

Pinch white pepper

½ pound shrimp, peeled, deveined

½ pound scallops, quartered if large

½ pound calamari, cut into ¼- inch rings

½ pound mushrooms, sliced

½ red bell pepper, seeded, cut into strips

4 or 5 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces

Heat 5 quarts of water to boil; add noodles and pinch of salt. Boil, stirring occasionally, until noodles are soft, about 30 seconds. Drain; transfer to bowl.

Toss with 2 tablespoons of the peanut oil. Set aside. Mix 2 tablespoons water and cornstarch in small bowl; set aside.

Saute vegetables in sesame oil and oyster sauce seasoned with white pepper. Add chicken stock or broth. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add shrimp, scallops and calamari. Add cornstarch mixture and cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

Serve over noodles.

Yield: Serves 4.

Paella Primavera

1 cup fat-free, low-salt chicken broth

¼ teaspoon saffron

1 cup diced frozen onion

6 mini zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces (or 1 cup sliced zucchini)

4 ounces chorizo sausage, diced (about 1 cup)

2/3 cup orzo

½ pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 ½ cups)

1 cup frozen peas

½ cup drained, sliced roasted red pepper

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Bring chicken broth, 1 cup water and saffron to a boil in a medium-size nonstick skillet. Add onion, zucchini, chorizo and orzo. Stir, bring back to a boil and cook 5 minutes. (If you don’t have a nonstick pan, stir often to keep orzo from sticking.) If pan becomes dry, add more broth. Add asparagus, peas and roasted red pepper. Cook 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Yield: Serves 2.

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 529 calories (23 percent from fat), 13.4 grams fat (54.9 grams saturated, 0.2 grams monounsaturated), 46 milligrams cholesterol, 29.6 grams protein, 77.4 grams carbohydrates, 12.5 grams fiber, 1,417 milligrams sodium.

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