La Chinata Spanish Pimenton de la Vera: Spicy ‘Nduja Rice With Leftover Rotisserie Chicken & Vegetables

Do you ever find yourself stuck with leftover rotisserie chicken?  I do.  When I don't have the time to cook, we order takeout.  There really are not so many choices for takeout food in Italy but if you head to a pizzeria selling pizza al taglio, they sometimes have rotisserie chicken and potatoes alongside the pizza and some other simple dishes to take home.

One whole chicken is always too much for us while half chicken is not enough to feed us, so that makes us buy one whole with leftovers to deal with afterwards.  I sometimes use it in making a delicious tomato chicken pasta sauce that gives the chicken a whole new life or some other much simpler dishes.  Chicken is a very flexible ingredient and it goes with almost everything. 

Spanish - inspired blends in rice is one of my favorite recipes to create and having just received some smoked paprika from La Chinata, a company that produces pimenton de la Vera in Spain (smoked paprika from La Vera, Spain), I couldn't wait to open a box and try the sweet variety.  I have three kinds - sweet, bittersweet and hot.  You see, the smoked paprika from La Vera, Spain has achieved a "Protected Denomination of Origin" status.  The taste and color alone show how good the quality is.  And as an impartial personal opinion, I love how strong the smoky flavor is of the paprika.  Being a big user of smoked paprika, this is the only one that I found genuinely good.  (Note: This is my personal free opinion.)

To make it spicy, I added some 'nduja, a spicy spreadable pork sausage produced in Calabria, in the southern part of Italy.  Then some diced chorizo completed the overall taste of the rice dish.  You can always change the vegetables to put.  For this recipe, I used some bottled grilled mushrooms, bottled artichokes and frozen green peas.  The flavors were amazing together.  My verdict?  Please try it.  It's really good and hey, it's a good way to use that leftover chicken that you have.

La Chinata smoked paprika can be bought over the internet easily wherever you are located.  In Italy, it is distributed by Longino & Cardenal.

Buon appetito!

Spicy ‘Nduja Rice With Leftover Rotisserie Chicken & Vegetables

Ingredients:
Serves 4

• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 100 g. chorizo, chopped 
• 1 tablespoon ‘nduja (adjust amount according to the spiciness that you prefer)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (I used the sweet variety of La Chinata's paprika)
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 cups leftover rotisserie chicken, diced 
• 1 cup grilled bottled mushrooms & artichokes (or other veggies), diced 
• 2 cups green peas
• Salt

Directions:

1. Over medium heat in a large saucepan, sautè the garlic in extra virgin olive oil.  When it becomes golden, discard.   
2. Add the chorizo and toss for 3 minutes.
3. Add the 'nduja and smoked paprika.
4. Add the rice. Mix well for 5 minutes.
5. Add the chicken & mushrooms, artichokes & green peas. You can replace the vegetables with anything you want.
6. Toss for another 5 minutes together.  Season with salt. 
7. Drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil.