
Lemon, artichoke and butterbean paella
A few things to say about Paella, while recognising I am absolutely no expert. I have found it’s best in a thin based paella pan over a gas flame or even better a BBQ/fire. Failing that whatever large shallow (to drive off the liquid quickly) saute pan you have will work, the thinner based the better, for once in my life I categorically AM NOT asking you to use a cast iron pan.
The rice must be short grain so it won’t dry out when toasted. I have used bomba (also known as Calasparra) rice, but there are other varieties you can buy too. I have been told that risotto rice works as well though not been brave enough to try that wild and crazy risk.
DO NOT STIR. The end. This is not a risotto. The lack of stirring is what gives you the crisp browned, sticky, chewy layer of “socarrat” that is the main reason I eat paella. If you have made tadig then you will know what I am talking about.
Don’t scrimp on the olive oil – the oil and your generosity with it is what makes this.
I’ve made this a few different ways, a few subs I have enjoyed are; adding a finely chopped head of fennel with the onions and carrots at the start. Adding jar of roasted red peppers, chopped with the rice. Adding any kind of white bean or chickpea would work here.
Serves 4-6
Good extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 head fennel, finely chopped, any herby bits kept for later
4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
2 ripe tomatoes, flesh finely chopped, seeds discarded
A heaped teaspoon of smoked paprika
A large pinch of saffron, soaked in 50ml of water
100ml tomato passata
100ml white wine
1.5 litres good veg stock
300g short grain paella rice (see above)
1 x 400g tin or jar butter beans
1 x 400g jar artichokes, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges
A small bunch of parsley
First prep all your veg for the soffrito (the veg base of the paella), keeping all the trimmings, garlic and onion skins, carrot peel in a bowl. Put your veg stock in a pan and add all the trimmings to add some more depth to the stock, you can add a bit more veg here if you have some on hand.
Heat about 4 tablespoons of oil in your pan (more on that above) add the onion, carrot and fennel if you are using it and saute for about 10 minutes until really soft and sweet and beginning to brown. Add the peppers, tomatoes, garlic and smoked paprika and cook for another few minutes. Add the saffron and its soaking water, the wine and the passata and cook for another few minutes.
Onto the rice, add it to the pan and stir it well to coat, adding more oil here if you think you need it. Shuffle the rice into an even layer and add about 800ml of the strained stock. Simmer hard, no stirring, for 10 minutes by which time a good amount of the liquid should have been absorbed but it should still feel like there is enough for it to cook for another 10 minutes, if not add some of the remaining stock, remember no stirring.
Next scatter over the butterbeans and the artichokes evenly and cook, No stirring, for another 8 to 10 mins. Again if the rice looks too dry before its cooked (you check by trying some – sorry if this is stating the obvious), add a little more stock, but do not stir it in.
The key to the crispy bottom is to let it cook for a minute or two after all the liquid has been absorbed, you should hear a sizzle and see the edges crisp. Take it off the heat and cover to allow it to rest for 10 minutes then top with the lemon wedges, the chopped parsley and any fennel fronds if you are using fennel.
Comments
Posted by Colleen Zilio at 4:06 on the 03.09.21
Welcome back Anna! Your email with this recipe was a JOY to read. Thank you for your work and efforts to connect us more closely to the seasons and local produce. While I have your books, I truly appreciate your weekly message reminding me what to cook.
Posted by Beate at 11:20 on the 04.09.21
Hello and thank your for the vegan recipe. What could I take instead of artichoke?
Thanks
Beate
Posted by Christine at 10:59 on the 10.09.21
Lovely, lovely, lovely recipe and brilliant result full of flavour and saffron perfumes! I made this for dinner yesterday (using slices of ripe figs instead of the artichokes). One question, though: The ingredients lists mentions “100 ml white wine” twice = 200 ml. Is that correct or was the double listing a glitch?
Thank you
Christine
Posted by Moira at 6:08 on the 12.09.21
Glorious photo’s as usual, can’t wait to try this recipe! 🙂
A little warning though: in your newsletter you mentioned loving ensaimadas, always check the ingredients of those as a vegetarian, as they’re traditionally made with pork lard.
Posted by Alison at 8:04 on the 14.09.21
This paella is amazing…..so much flavour!
Posted by LYNN WOOD at 3:29 on the 16.09.21
Very tasty dish. Light and not too filliing
Posted by Julia at 9:36 on the 06.10.21
Thank you for this fantastic recipe! The flavour and texture is so authentically Spanish, even in this vegetarian version!
I used courgettes instead of artichokes and Arborio rice, which worked very well.
Posted by Miranda at 10:24 on the 08.10.21
Great flavour and so easy to make! Thanks Anna!
Posted by Nicola morgan at 6:11 on the 25.11.21
Which book is this from, please?? Sound fab!
Posted by Katherine Rossmoore at 9:41 on the 08.08.22
I Love your column, and your recipes and your Links but you have stumped me with this one! What is tomato passata?
Posted by QUERINO DE FREITAS at 8:51 on the 20.06.23
PAELLA,,WHEN MADE PROPERLY IS A LOVELY SIGHT AND TASTE…..YOUR PAELLA IS A TASTY SIGHT, AND THE INGREDIENTS ARE EASY TO COME BY..I LIVED IN TRINIDAD AND THEY HAVE PELAU OR COOK-UP IN WHICH OKRA IS USED….AND OF COURSE THE BURNT BOTOMS, WHERE WE USED TO FIGHT FOR….THANKS …QUERINO