Murcian Style Vegetable Paella Food

ROASTED VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Position two racks evenly spaced in the oven.
• Put the bell peppers, fennel, eggplants, and red onion in a large bowl, add 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper, and toss. Divide the vegetables between two sheet pans and spread in one layer. Roast for 45 minutes, tossing occasionally.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a 14- to 16-inch paella pan or large (11-inch) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the yellow onions and saute for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and saffron and cook for one minute. Add the rice and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat the rice with oil. Place the jarred peppers (including their liquid) and paprika in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until pureed. Pour the mixture into the paella pan, stirring to combine, and bring to a boil. Add 1 cup of the hot stock and 2 teaspoons salt and cook uncovered over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, as you would cook risotto. Continue to cook the rice over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring in 1 cup of hot stock at a time whenever the liquid is absorbed, until the rice is al dente
• Add the vegetables to the paella, add one more cup of stock, and stir carefully. If the paella is dry, add more hot stock. Off the heat, stir in the Manchego cheese, olives, and scallions. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

MURCIAN STYLE VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Dice the mushrooms into bite size pieces and sear in the hot olive oil.
• Remove with a slotted spoon (keeping the oil in the pan) and reserve.
• In the same oil, fry the cloves of whole garlic until tender.
• Remove the cloves of garlic and mash in a mortar and pestle with the parsley and saffron too.
• Add the vegetables to the pan and sauté in the hot olive oil for two minutes.
• Add the garlic paste and the mushrooms (with any juices that came out) back to the pan.
• Add one cup of stock and let everything simmer at a low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the two cup of rice and four cups of stock to the pan.
• Give everything a stir and bring the mixture to a boil.
• As soon as the liquid starts to boil, lower the heat to low and let it cook for 15-20 minutes -- don't stir during this time!
• When the rice is al dente and the liquid is absorbed, you're ready to eat!
• To get the beloved "socarrat" (the caramelized, lightly burnt crust on the bottom of the paella pan) put a kitchen towel over the finished rice and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then remove the towel and put the paella back on the heat on high. Any liquid at the bottom of the pan will start to evaporate, and when you start to hear a sizzle (in Spain we say it sounds like rain) let it caramelize for about 30 seconds (it should not smell burnt). Remove and serve immediately.

VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Core the tomatoes, cut into wedges and place in a medium bowl; season with salt, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and toss. Set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or a paella pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, paprika, cayenne and saffron and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Add the fennel wedges and cook until lightly browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the fennel and add the baby artichokes and eggplant to the skillet; cook until slightly tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and simmer until reduced by about one-third. Stir in the rice and 1 3/4 teaspoons salt; add just enough water to cover the rice completely, 2 1/2 to 3 cups. Increase the heat to high and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Scatter the haricots verts and 2 tablespoons capers over the rice. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange the tomatoes on top; drizzle with any tomato juices.
• Transfer the paella to the oven and bake, undisturbed, for 20 minutes. Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons capers and the piquillo peppers over the paella. Turn off the oven but leave the paella inside to continue cooking until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 more minutes. Garnish with parsley, if desired

VEGETABLE PAELLA ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Heat a large saute or paella pan over medium heat or place on a grill over medium heat. Add the oil and when hot. Add the mushrooms and crisp for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, peppers, onions and a large pinch of salt and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the kale and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute. Add the rice and cook until toasted, a few minutes. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, then add the stock and cook, stirring, until it comes to a simmer. Cook, undisturbed, until the liquid has been absorbed, the rice is cooked and a crust forms on the bottom of the pan, about 20 minutes.
• Garnish the paella with the fried eggs and cilantro if you have it.

VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 10-inch saute pan with a lid. Add the onion and celery and saute until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, cherry tomatoes and salt and cook an additional 6 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to break down. Add the radishes and saute another 2 minutes. Add the vermouth and allow it to reduce by half. Add the chicken broth and then the saffron, rubbing it between your fingers to crumble a bit. Bring to a simmer and stir in the rice and the green beans. Simmer over medium-high heat, uncovered, for 5 minutes without disturbing. Scatter the red peppers and peas over the top and gently press them into the rice mixture; do not stir. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 7 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to high and cook for 3 minutes more, to make sure all the liquid is evaporated and to help develop a crust on the bottom. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with the smoked paprika and the parsley and serve.

VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• In Dutch oven combine oil, onion, red pepper and garlic.
• Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion and pepper are softened (5 minutes).
• Add rice.
• Continue cooking 1 minute, stirring constantly, to coat with oil.
• Add tomatoes, broth, carrots and paprika.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover; reduce heat to medium low.
• Cook 10 minutes, stirring once.
• Add artichoke hearts, eggplant and zucchini.
• Continue cooking, stirring once, until broth is almost absorbed (10 to 12 minutes).
• Add peas and parsley.
• Continue cooking until heated through (3 to 4 minutes).
• Serve!

VEGETABLE PAELLA

Steps:

• Dissolve the saffron in the vegetable stock.
• Prepare all the ingredients and have them lined up in front of you in the order listed above.
• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add the onions and garlic, cover and cook for about 3 minutes until soft.
• Then add the peppers and peas, stir in, cover again and cook for a few more minutes.
• Make a well in the center, put the tomatoes in the well and the paprika on top.
• Then add the stock (with the saffron if you have it), but make sure it doesn't overflow: If it gets more then half a cm close to the rim of the pan, stop adding stock and just use less rice.
• Season with pepper and stir.
• Scatter as much of the rice as you think will fit over the stock, stir it in gently, then allow it to simmer gently until the liquid has absorbed and the rice is cooked. This should take about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Test a bit of the rice to see if it's cooked, add a bit of stock or hot water if it is not done.
• Stir in the parsley a few minutes before it has finished cooking, if you want to use it, then serve hot.
• Also nice cold eaten as leftovers.