PAELLA WITH TOMATOES

Paella With Tomatoes image

The cooking process for this simple paella is identical to any other: soften some onions in oil, add seasonings (including saffron, if you have it), rice and liquid and cook. Adding lightly seasoned tomatoes is the major difference in this recipe.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories dinner, grains and rice, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups stock or water
1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into thick wedges
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Large pinch saffron threads (optional)
2 teaspoons Spanish pimentón (smoked paprika), or other paprika
2 cups Spanish or other short-grain rice
Minced parsley for garnish

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Warm stock or water in a saucepan. Put tomatoes in a medium bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss to coat.
Put remaining oil in a 10- or 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, saffron if you are using it, and paprika and cook for a minute more. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is shiny, another minute or two. Add liquid and stir until just combined.
Put tomato wedges on top of rice and drizzle with juices that accumulated in bottom of bowl. Put pan in oven and roast, undisturbed, for 15 minutes. Check to see if rice is dry and just tender. If not, return pan to oven for another 5 minutes. If rice looks too dry but still is not quite done, add a small amount of stock or water (or wine). When rice is ready, turn off oven and let pan sit for 5 to 15 minutes.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle with parsley. If you like, put pan over high heat for a few minutes to develop a bit of a bottom crust before serving.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 401, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 65 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 818 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams