A chicken, prawn and chorizo fideuà (pron. fid-ay-wah) is one of those dishes that hits somewhere between comfort food and entertainment food.
Originally from the east coast of Spain, fideuà is similar to paella, but instead of rice it uses short pasta noodles cooked directly in a richly flavoured broth. The noodles completely transform the dish, giving it a different texture and the ability to soak up even more flavour.
Seafood is often the only protein in this dish (here’s my recipe for seafood fideuà), but I do like to mix it up a little and so have created this fideuà with prawns, but also chicken and chorizo, which are common paella ingredients. One of the biggest reasons this combo works so well is the balance of flavours. Chicken brings savoury depth and tenderness, while prawns add sweetness and that unmistakable ocean flavour. Then there’s chorizo – smoky, paprika-rich and slightly spicy – which infuses the entire pan with colour and warmth as its oils melt into the broth.
The noodles themselves are another part of the appeal. As they cook in the stock, they absorb the juices from the chicken, seafood and chorizo, becoming deeply seasoned.
Visually, it’s also a very generous, shareable dish. A wide pan filled with golden noodles, scattered prawns, pieces of chicken, and slices of chorizo looks abundant and inviting on the table. Finished with lemon wedges and fresh parsley, it feels rustic but still special enough for entertaining. Trust me, make this once, and it will become a firm family and friend favourite.



