Spain - Dinner - Vegan Paella

My family never really got into Spanish food (we basically have Italian food every night), so I relied on my friends' recommendations when asking what I should make for my senior project. Paella was one of the first dishes that came up, and I butchered the pronunciation at first but figured it out eventually (who knew two L's make a Y sound? I guess I knew because of the word tortilla...). This dish I created following this recipe is so healthy and delicious, using vegetable stock and all kinds of good fruits and vegetables. It was fun and easy to make and made the whole house smell good. Enjoy!



Ingredients:
2½ cups Vegetable Stock
½ teaspoon Saffron Threads
1½ Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 large Red Onion, Sliced
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, Sliced
1 Red Bell Pepper, Sliced
1 cup Brown Mushrooms, Sliced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 cup Bomba Rice
2 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
1½ teaspoons Smoked Paprika
Salt/Pepper
1 cup Green Peas
1 can Artichoke Hearts, drained and chopped
½ cup Parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. Combine the stock and saffron threads in a medium saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and maintain a simmer. Meanwhile, heat paella pan on the stove with 1½ tablespoons Olive Oil.

2. Add Onion to Paella Pan and sautee for 2 minutes. Add sliced red and yellow pepper and continue to saute till softened, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom and sautee for 5 minutes or until it has softened slightly.

3. Increase heat to medium-high. Add Bomba rice, tomato and smoked paprika and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until well mixed through. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add one-third of the saffron infused stock and stir until just combined. Let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed.

4. Add the next third of the stock and cook for 5 minutes uncovered or until almost absorbed. Add remaining third of stock and cook for 5-10 minutes uncovered.

5. Sprinkle surface of paella with peas and artichoke hearts. Cover entire pan in tin foil (or pan cover) and leave to cook on a low heat for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, turn heat off but leave the paella pan covered with tin foil for another 10 minutes.

6. Remove tin foil after 10 minutes and garnish with parsley.