Some recipes just lend themselves to be photoblogged. Some months ago, I set about cooking Ottolenghi's multi-vegetable paella. The recipe is available from the Guardian; I got it from his book Plenty, a vegetarian cookbook heartily endorsed by my meat-eating partner. I'm probably going to get Plenty More, due out in September.
Such a recipe is really quite simple, but requires quite some prep before you properly start. I find chopping vegetables to be very therapeutic. The more you do it, the better you get. A sharp knife is essential - I sharpen before each session.
Fry the vegetables
Assemble (and add) the additional flavours
Simmer most of the ingredients
Prepare most of the remaining ones (I have no idea what that wine glass is doing there)
Scatter tomatoes, artichokes and beans over the dish
He says cover with foil and leave to rest, but that left the tomatoes/beans/artichokes still cold, which I didn't want
So I heated it through.
Finish off by sprinkling it with olives and lemons, and serve (no photos of 'serve'; eating takes priority!). A great early Saturday evening repaste. Definitely one to do again
