You will need a somewhat deep cooking dish. The size depends on the number of portions you wish to make. The amounts of the ingredients are relative and it does not matter if you use more of one and less of another or chose not to use some at all. The vital thing is the preparation of the rice so that it comes out loose.

PAELLA with vegetables is an economic and helpful because we almost always have on hand the ingredients we need, also if there is a vegetarian in the house they can eat this dish without problem.

Ingredients for four persons

½ cup oil
salt
1 large onion
2 green peppers
2 large tomatoes
1 cup rice
2 cups water
2 cloves of garlic
parsley
saffron or yellow foodcoloring

About two pounds of any type of vegetable you may have on hand, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, green beans, peas, all will work . You only need use your imagination. When you have decided what you wish to include, clean it and dice.

1. Dice the onion and tomato. Put the oil in a large frying pan and heat. Not so hot that it splatters. Add the onion and tomato and fry it gently over low heat until it is reduced to about one quarter of the original quantity. This is the secret to its richness.

2. When you have the sofrito ready, you put it in the dish you plan to use to make the paella, and add the vegetables. Simmer over low heat for about ten minutes. Next you add the rice and coloring and mix everything well. Now add the water. When it begins to boil add the crushed garlic and parsley. It is not necessary to stir just move the dish around occasionally. It takes about twenty minutes to cook. Taste to see if it needs salt. If you see that it may be a little dry before the rice is done, add a little water uniformly over the top. After it has cooked twenty minutes, remove from heat and cover with a clean dishtowel. Let stand about five or ten minutes.

Easy, is it not? If you wish to decorate it place some cooked red pepper strips and some peas. It not only tastes delicious but is also very pleasing to the eye.