Arroz de Verduras (Vegetable Rice)

Preparation

1. Step 1

   For the sofrito: Bring a pan of water to a boil, add tomatoes, and blanch for 15 seconds. Drain, rinse under cold water, and peel. Core, seed, and cut into ½-inch dice. In a skillet over medium-low heat, add the oil and sauté the onion and garlic until golden. Add saffron and sauté 2 minutes. Add tomato and sauté until all the moisture is gone. Stir in paprika and remove from heat.

2. Step 2

   For the rice: In a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine the sofrito and olive oil. Place over medium-low heat. Add rice and stir constantly with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the rice is toasted, about 1 minute. Add 3 cups of the stock and mix well. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. (At this point the rice is partially cooked and may be spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet, covered with more parchment, and allowed to sit at room temperature for up to three hours before finishing.)

3. Step 3

   To finish: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a small pan of water to a boil, add carrots, and blanch for 10 seconds. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Spread the rice evenly across the bottom of a 16 to 18 inch paella or sauté pan, and scatter the edamame, peas, corn, carrots, and olives on top. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle with remaining 1½ cups stock.

4. Step 4

   Place pan in oven and bake until the rice is crisped around the edges and a "soccarat," a crust, has formed on the bottom of the pan, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and cilantro. Mix well, scraping the bottom and sides of pan, and adjust salt and pepper as desired. Serve hot.