Paella is a famous Spanish dish that takes its name from the wide, shallow skillet it's traditionally cooked in. Although there are as many paella recipes as there are chefs, common to most of them is the use of saffron, which imparts its bright yellow color and bittersweet taste. This vegetarian variation includes lots of fresh vegetables and tender chunks of pan-fried tofu.
1 1/4 cups uncooked basmati rice
1 1/4 cups uncooked sticky rice*
2 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
10 oz. firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
One small bunch of fresh chives, chopped
Half a red bell pepper, cut into strips
Half a green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
3 medium tomatoes, cut into segments
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1/4 tsp. saffron
1/4 tsp. turmeric
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 to 2 tsp. salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Fresh parsley for garnishing
1. Rinse and cook both kinds of rice separately. For each one, place the rice into a small saucepan with 2 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cook until the water is absorbed and the grains are soft, about 15-20 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Heat 1/2 Tbsp. of the oil in a nonstick skillet and pan-fry the tofu until golden brown. Set aside. In a wok or large skillet heat the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and sauté the chives, bell peppers, and mushrooms over medium heat. When slightly tender, stir in the tomatoes, pan-fried tofu, peas, saffron, and turmeric.
3. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are just tender and some of the moisture has dried up. Add the cooked rices along with the soy sauce, salt, and pepper and gently toss to combine. Heat until warmed through. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Serves 12
*Sticky rice is also called sweet or mochi rice and can be found in Asian markets or the Oriental section of some supermarkets.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 211, Fat 4.6g (41 cal), Carbohydrate 35.9g (144 cal), Protein 6.6g (26 cal)
Added information: Saturated Fat 0.6g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 564mg, Dietary Fiber 2.1g
It was delightful, to say the least. It reminded me of my Spanish grandmother who'd always cook her "Nana's special paella" for us during our family reunions. She mentioned that back in Spain paella can be made of anything. It's actually usually a dish of all the left overs!
