Warming Tomato, Pepper & Saffron Rice
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Total: 40 mins
Saffron lends its sunny colour and delicate flavour to this warm, inviting rice dish, rich with roasted red peppers, bursting cherry tomatoes and sweet fried onions, and brightened with a zingy dash of lemon juice.
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493 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 250g cherry vine tomatoes
  • 2 red peppers
  • 2 onions
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 200g risotto rice
  • A pinch of saffron powder
  • 50g baby leaf spinach
  • 1 lemon
From your kitchen
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 600ml boiling water
You'll need
  • Roasting tin
  • Large pan
  • Measuring jug
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Preheat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Pop the cherry vine tomatoes into a roasting tin. Halve the red peppers and scoop out the seeds. Slice the peppers into thin strips and add them to the roasting tin. Drizzle over 1 tsp oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently toss the veg to coat. Slide the roasting tin into the oven and cook for 20-25 mins, till the veg are tender and golden at the edges.

  • 2.

    While the veg roast, peel and thinly slice the onions. Peel and finely chop the garlic cloves.

  • 3.

    Pour 1 tsp oil into a large pan and warm to a medium heat. Slide in the chopped onions and fry for 5-6 mins, till softened. Stir in the garlic and 1 tsp ground cumin. Season with salt and pepper. Fry for a further 1 min, stirring frequently.

  • 4.

    While the onions cook, fill your kettle and boil it, then fill a heatproof jug with 600ml boiling water. Crumble in the stock cube and stir to dissolve.

  • 5.

    Pour the rice into the pan and stir for 1 min. Pour in the vegetable stock. Add a pinch of saffron powder and stir well. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 20-25 mins, stirring occasionally, till tender.

  • 6.

    When the rice is cooked, stir through the baby leaf spinach and roasted veg. Squeeze in a little lemon juice. Taste the rice and add more salt, pepper or lemon juice if needed. Divide the rice between a couple of warm plates and serve.

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