Which Unicode version approved the shallow-pan emoji used for paella?

The Unicode version that approved the shallow-pan emoji used for paella was Unicode 9.0.

Unicode 9.0 was released in 2016 and added U+1F958, whose official name is SHALLOW PAN OF FOOD. The character was also included in Emoji 3.0, the emoji release associated with that year, which is why references may mention both a Unicode version and an emoji version.

The symbol’s design resembles a shallow serving pan filled with food, making it especially useful for paella, although Unicode does not restrict it to that dish. Its formal aliases include paella and casserole, and platform artwork can vary in color and ingredients.

The nearby version choices are common traps. Unicode 8.0 predates this character, Unicode 12.0 introduced later food-related additions such as falafel, and Unicode 6.0 belongs to an earlier generation of emoji characters. “Approved” here means the character was accepted into the Unicode Standard; the separate emoji release records when it became part of the emoji set.