Smoked chicken and asparagus paella with broad bean, almond and sorrel pesto

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/gas 5. Rub the chicken legs with the paprika and a drizzle of olive oil.

2. Place the chicken legs in a roasting tray with the garlic cloves and roast for 25 minutes until cooked through.

3. Take the roast chicken flesh off the bone and reserve the roast garlic.

4. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan. Add in the chorizo, chillies, onion, carrot and celery and fry over a medium heat until the vegetables are softened, around 5 minutes.

5. Add in the rice and mix in well.

6. Add the tomato, and cook for 3-4 minutes.

7. Pour the wine in and bring the mixture to the boil. Add the stock 100 millilitres at a time.

8. Cook for 20 minutes, then add the asparagus, and cook for another 5 minutes.

9. Add the roast chicken flesh, reserved roast garlic and saffron. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

10. To make the pesto, toast the almonds in a dry frying pan until lightly browned, taking care not to burn them. Remove and cool.

11. In a food processor, blend together the dry-fried almonds, sorrel, broad beans, garlic, Pecorino and olive oil into a paste. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

12. To serve the paella, put a generous helping on a plate, and garnish with the pesto.