A vibrant colorful dish with an inviting aroma. The creamy yellow saffron-infused Arborio rice colors the plate, adorned with glistening caramelized onions in a deep golden brown, and sprinkles of green peas and chopped fresh parsley on top. A red streak of paprika delivers a striking contrast.

Spanish Caramelized Onion & Saffron Risotto

Name: Spanish Caramelized Onion & Saffron Risotto
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: large onion, 2 thinly sliced; Arborio rice, 1.5 cups; saffron threads, 1/2 teaspoon; Smoked Paprika, 1 teaspoon; garlic cloves, 4 minced; Vegetable stock, 4 cups; tomato, 2 diced; Green peas, 1 cup frozen; White wine, 1/2 cup; Olive oil, 2 tablespoons; Butter, 2 tablespoons; Sea salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; Fresh parsley, for garnish

Category Main Course

Prep 10 minutes

Cook 40 minutes

Style Spanish

Technique Sautéing

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: April 07, 2025

This culinary delight lets you experience a burst of Spanish flavours with a surprising twist. The caramelized onions, which are the star of the dish, bring depth of flavor and sweetness that balances well with the tanginess of the tomatoes and creamy saffron-infused Arborio rice.

Ingredients (for 4)

Large onion - 2 - thinly sliced
Arborio rice - 1.5 cups
Saffron threads - 1/2 teaspoon
Smoked paprika - 1 teaspoon
Garlic cloves - 4 - minced
Vegetable stock - 4 cups
Tomato - 2 - diced
Green peas - 1 cup - frozen
White wine - 1/2 cup
Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
Butter - 2 tablespoons
Sea salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste
Fresh parsley - for garnish

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔪🍅🍚

Slice the onions, mince the garlic, dice the tomatoes, and prepare all other ingredients. Measure out rice, saffron, smoked paprika, white wine, and stock.
Step 2 - 🍳🧅💛

In a deep pan, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until they are caramelized.
Step 3 - 🍲🔥

In another pan, warm up the vegetable stock. Stir in saffron threads and set aside.
Step 4 - 🍳🍚💫

Add minced garlic to the onions and sauté until aromatic. Then add Arborio rice, stirring continuously until the grains are toasted.
Step 5 - 🍷🔥🥘

Deglaze the pan with white wine, stirring occasionally until the wine is nearly all evaporated.
Step 6 - 🍚🥄💦

Start ladling in the saffron-infused vegetable stock, continuously stirring. Wait until the stock is absorbed before adding more. Continue until the rice is creamy.
Step 7 - 🍅🍵💫

Stir in the diced tomatoes and green peas. Cook for another 5 minutes until tender.
Step 8 - 🧂🍃😋

Remove from heat, season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to taste. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

Additional

This is a perfect dish to serve at a dinner party as it's a real crowd-pleaser. To add a protein, you can serve this risotto with pan-seared scallops or grilled chicken. Kids can help with stirring the risotto or washing vegetables. Remember when you're making risotto, patience is key. The slow cooking and constant stirring help release the starch from the rice, giving the risotto its characteristic creaminess. Enjoy!