This Spanish Widowed Rice, known in Spain as Arroz Viudo con Verdudas, is possibly the best rice dish in the world. Loaded with so many different flavors, easy to make and it comes together in about 40 minutes.
Ok, so this rice dish sounds great, but why the weird name? It´s called widowed rice because there´s no meat or seafood. Just vegetables. But let me tell you, this dish has such a great flavor, you won´t miss any of the meat or seafood.
To make this dish, I used uncooked Spanish round rice. But you can use any type of rice you like. The one I used is very similar to medium grain rice or arborio rice. I also used homemade vegetable broth, but you can use the store-bought stuff if you prefer.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: I like to cut all the veggies into large chunks, as it gives this rice dish a better texture. Also, when you add the rice into the pan, give it one mix so it is all evenly distributed. After that, you don´t wat to mix the rice again, as it distrups the way it cooks.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY SWISS DIAMON FRYING PANS
SPANISH ROUND RICE
SAFFRON THREADS
SWEET SMOKED SPANISH PAPRIKA
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
SPANISH SEA SALT
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make Spanish Widowed Rice
Spanish Widowed Rice | Arroz Viudo con Verdudas Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 80 ml
- 1/2 onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper
- 1/2 zucchini
- 15 fresh green beans
- 1 tomato
- 1 cup fresh broccoli 71 grams
- 1/4 cup frozen peas 34 grams
- 1 cup round rice 180 grams
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.30 grams
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
- 1 1/2 tbsp freshly chopped thyme 1.2 grams
- 3 cups vegetable broth 705 ml
- sea salt & black pepper
Instructions
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Roughly chop 1/2 onion, thinly slice 4 cloves of garlic, cut 1/2 red & 1/2 green bell pepper into thin strips that are 2 inches (5.08 cm) long, cut 1/2 zucchini into rounds that are 1/4 inch (.635 cm) thick and then into half shapped moons, cut the ends of 15 fresh green beans and then in half, roughly chop 1 tomato and reserve 1 cup of fresh broccoli
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium-high heat and add in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, after 1 minute add in all the cut vegetables, mix with the olive oil, after 8 minutes and the onion & zucchini are translucent and the rest of the veggies are tender, add in 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp saffron threads and season generously with sea salt & black pepper, mix together until well combined, then add in 1 cup round rice and 1 1/2 tbsp freshly chopped thyme, mix together once again, then add in 3 cups vegetable broth and 1/4 cup frozen peas, give it one last mix and simmer on a medium-high heat
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After about 10 minutes and you can see a lot of the broth has been incorporated into the rice, lower the fire to a low-medium heat and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes or until all the broth has been incorporated into the rice, then remove the pan from the heat, cover with a dishcloth and let it rest for a couple minutes, remove the dishcloth and serve at once, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Saffron Threads I used to make this Spanish Widowed Rice
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Bonzo the Cat
10 . Jan . 2024Great dish. I was a bit confused by the instruction to reserve the broccoli, because it doesn’t say when to add it. I added it with the frozen peas.
Spain on a Fork
You are supposed to add it with the cut vegetables, glad you enjoyed the dish! Much love 🙂
10 . Jan . 2024Debby
23 . Apr . 2023Delicious! Quick and easy meal to use any veggies on hand.
Spain on a Fork
Glad you liked it! Much love 🙂
25 . Apr . 2023Jess
13 . Feb . 2023This dish really blew me away, it’s so delicious! It’s definitely going to be a regular dish in our house! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us and making it so easy to follow along🤗
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
14 . Feb . 2023Lori
01 . Aug . 2022We love this recipe. The flavor is fantastic. So deep and rich with lovely layers. Love the cooking technique. Makes the rice perfect!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
03 . Aug . 2022Brett
18 . Jan . 2022Amazing! This recipe is so simple and classic, and insanely flavorful. It’s really fantastic- thank you for sharing!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
18 . Jan . 2022Stuart Bodgers
Fabulous recipe… we cook it often. Can you tell me how to scale this recipe up for 4 or 6 people? I want to cook it for friends and family but I’ve been told it’s not as simple as just doubling the ingredients…?
Thank you and please keep cooking these amazing, tasty, beautiful recipes 🙏
08 . Jan . 2022Spain on a Fork
I would double up on the rice, broth and seasonings, everything else leave the same or just eye ball it 🙂 much love
08 . Jan . 2022Lynnette
Fab dish! We all love it, thanks so much for the inspiration. Love to you
30 . Apr . 2021Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment ? much love
30 . Apr . 2021Eli Calderin
Where’s the vegetable broth recipe ???
25 . Jan . 2021Spain on a Fork
https://spainonafork.wpengine.com/how-to-easily-make-your-own-vegetable-broth-at-home/
26 . Jan . 2021Cassandra
21 . Jan . 2021I made this tonight for Day Two of our Vegan Week. Raves from both me and my partner. We keep a list of 4 and 5 star recipes to remind ourselves what to make again, and this recipe just went on it. Very satisfying dinner.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! much love 🙂
21 . Jan . 2021Susan
Made this for the first time today. It turned out really nice. Thanks again for all of the beautiful recipes.
17 . Jan . 2021Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
18 . Jan . 2021Ernesto Palazio
Would like to know your recipe for the vegetable broth
17 . Jan . 2021Spain on a Fork
Here is the recipe for the vegetable broth:
https://spainonafork.wpengine.com/how-to-easily-make-your-own-vegetable-broth-at-home/
Much love 🙂
17 . Jan . 2021Maureen Gallego McDonald Michalski
03 . Jan . 2021Still enjoy your Southern Spain style empanadas!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! much love 🙂
04 . Jan . 2021Spanish Widowed Rice | Possibly the Best Rice Dish in the World - paprikaspice.page
[…] FULL RECIPE HERE: https://spainonafork.wpengine.com/spanish-widowed-rice-arroz-viudo-con-verdudas-recipe […]
01 . Jan . 2021Ann
29 . Dec . 2020Excellent practical recipes Beautifully photographed and easy to understand. Cant wait to get started. Presentation is most inspirational. Spanish food is the best in my kitchen !
Spain on a Fork
Thanks for the comment 🙂 much love!
29 . Dec . 2020