Vegetable Paella Recipe (Spanish Style Vegetable Rice)

Step 1: To begin making the Vegetarian Paella Recipe, first crush the saffron with a pinch of salt in a small mortar pestle and keep it aside for later use

Step 2: Next, proceed to make the sauce

Step 3: First, heat oil in the pan, till warm

Step 4: Then add onion and the garlic to it, and sauté for 1-2 minutes till the onions just turn pink

Step 5: Once the onions are pink/translucent, add the mushrooms and bell peppers to the pan and sauté them for 1-2 minutes more

Step 6: Cook till they are slightly softened

Step 7: Next, reserve some of these sauteed mushrooms and bell pepper slices to be used later as a garnish

Step 8: Continue to cook the remainder of the veggies in the pan

Step 9: Next, add the turmeric, smoked paprika and the tomato puree to it and simmer for a few minutes

Step 10: Next, add the stock, salt and the saffron and stir well

Step 11: Continue to simmer it until a few bubbles appear

Step 12: The next step is to add the rice to it, stir well and cover the pan

Step 13: Cook the rice till it is just cooked/al dente (about 12-15 minutes) and the water has been absorbed, leaving fluffy grains of rice

Step 14: If the rice dries up without getting fully cooked, you can adjust by adding stock as required to cook the rice till it is soft and fluffy, but not mushy

Step 15: When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat

Step 16: You can either serve the Paella in the same pot that you cooked it, or transfer ir into a serving dish or rice platter

Step 17: Garnish the paella with sliced mushrooms and peppers along with the olives

Step 18: Sprinkle with chopped parsley and arrange lime wedge

Step 19: Serve the Vegetarian Paella hot along with Watermelon Panzanella Salad