How to Make Vegetarian Paella that looks amazing and tastes amazing!
I am personally in awe of the wonderful colors in this meal!
How to Make Vegetarian Paella
This paella features a lot of healthy vegetables as well as spices/
The results is not only great flavor, this paella has a colorful presentation!
Did you try my Mediterranean diet friendly chocolate dipped strawberry recipe?
That recipe for chocolate dipped strawberries is also friendly to the Mediterranean diet and the vegetarian diets.
Chocolate dipped strawberries would be a wonderful idea for a dessert to follow this paella recipe up with!
Do you want to learn more about the Mediterranean Diet?
Find out how to follow the Mediterranean Diet here.
People often ask what is typically in paella.
Paella is a dish of Spanish origin that is actually named for the pan that is used to cook it in. It is typically ingredients, such as vegetables, seafood and/or meat, cooked on top of a bed of short grain rice.
There is one common ingredient besides rice that you will find in about every kind of paella.
Certainly, there are folks who still make their paella over an open fire with all of the traditional ingredients and served without plates just as there are so many variations. However, what almost all paella have in common is saffron, which is responsible for the bright yellow to orange color.
You may be wondering what makes a good paella.
To be honest, if you ask 10 people this question you will probably get about 12 answers (my opinion of course!). However, I am a person of presentation and I believe that what first draws people to paella is both the smell and the wonderful colors of it while still in the skillet.
Arguably, there are three things that most good paella recipes have in common.
First off, the paella should be made in a large and shallow skillet.
The paella should sit on a grain (short or medium) rice which eventually cooks to form a base for the other ingredients. Lastly, good paella has just the right amount of the right spices added to it.
Tips for making great paella.
Because I like to give healthier alternatives to my recipes, let me mention how easy this is to make into a vegan dish. There is no meat added to this recipe just eggs that are added to the top (mostly for presentation I suppose). Simply omit the eggs and you will have a vegan paella!
Here are some more great tips for you.
- Rice really needs to have the perfect balance in order to become a sturdy base for the other ingredients. This mean that it is essential that you do not add more than the indicated amount of liquid to it as the rice will become mushy. While there is water added to this paella dish, the liquid should be completely absorbed at the end of cooking.
- I mentioned earlier that paella is named after the large and shallow pan that is used to make it in. Paella experts seem to favor thin carbon steel pans that heat fast and don't retain too much heat. You can substitute a stainless steel, aluminum skillet or even a wok for your paella if desired.
- Allowing for the paella to rest for about five minutes before serving is recommended. Doing so will allow for the important aromas to develop and for the rice to become a great base for serving.
You may be wonderings, can you use normal rice in paella.
As mentioned, rice is possibly the most important ingredient in this recipe because it is what forms the base for all of the other ingredients. Using the correct kind of rice and cooking it until it becomes a base is what makes for a well made paella.
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The best kind of rice, according to the experts, is one that can absorb the liquid and flavors while forming a good base.
Short grain and even medium grain rice is preferred over a long grain rice is suggested for this reason. For this particular recipe, Arborio rice (an Italian short-grain rice) is suggested.
Are paellas healthy?
It really depends upon what you put into it just as with any other recipe.
Paella is a complete dish by itself, but if you want you can serve it with a light side dish such as a simple salad.
By the way, while you are here you may also be interested in these ideas.
- Vegan and Mediterranean Diet Bolognese with Zucchini noodles.
- Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
- Mediterranean Diet Black Bean Brownies (vegan).
- Chocolate Fudge Made with Avocado.
- Lemon Ricotta Cake recipe.
- Kale and Quinoa Caesar Salad.
- Easy Farro Tomato Salad
- How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet.
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How to Make Vegetarian Paella
I mentioned above that it is essential that you use the right kind of rice for best results.
Short grain and even medium grain rice is preferred over a long grain rice is suggested. For this particular recipe, Arborio rice (an Italian short-grain rice) is suggested.
Also mentioned was that this recipe can easily be made vegan.
Simply omit the hard boiled eggs if you choose to make this a Mediterranean diet and vegan recipe. The eggs are provided for both protein and presentation if you choose to keep them.
Ingredients needed to make vegan paella.
- Olive Oil- 2 tablespoons.
- Onion- 1, chopped. Spanish or onion of your choice.
- Garlic- 4 cloves, chopped
- Arborio Rice- 2 cups, uncooked.
- Sweet Paprika- 2 teaspoons.
- Saffron-1 teaspoon.
- Vegetable Broth- 3 ½ cups.
- Diced Tomatoes- 1 can(14.5 oz) drained.
- Bell Pepper -1 (color of choice) sliced.
- Green Beans- 1 cup chopped into 1" pieces.
- Artichoke Hearts -1 can (14.1 oz) cut in half
- Optional toppings as used in this recipe.
- 5 boiled eggs
- green onions- ¼ cup chopped
- fresh parsley- ¼ cup chopped
- cherry tomatoes on the vine (optional)
- Optional- Seasonings as desired. This can include Italian Seasonings, Mediterranean Diet Seasoning Blend, Greek Seasoning Blend, Salt, and/or Pepper.
How to Make Vegetarian Paella
- In a large shallow skillet on medium heat, warm two tablespoons of the oil for one minute then add the garlic, onion, paprika, saffron and rice and cook. Stir the ingredients so that the rice becomes well coated with the oil and ingredients. This should take about three minutes. You can add any optional seasonings here as well .
- Slowly add the broth and tomatoes and bring to boil at medium heat. Cook 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes without stirring.
- After 15 minutes of cooking add the bell pepper and green beans, mix gently and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, still without mixing.
- After the broth has evaporated, remove the paella from the heat and stir in the artichokes.
- Transfer the paella to a serving bowl or large serving dish.
Top with any of the optional toppings (green onions, fresh parsley, boiled eggs and grilled tomatoes if desired.) You can add any optional seasonings here as well .
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Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used.
How to Make Vegetarian Paella, healthy vegetables are included in this version of a popular dinner or meal idea.
How to Make Vegetarian Paella
Ingredients
- Olive Oil– 2 tablespoons.
- Onion- 1 chopped.
- Garlic- 4 cloves chopped
- Arborio Rice– 2 cups uncooked.
- Sweet Paprika– 2 teaspoons.
- Saffron-1 teaspoon.
- Vegetable Broth– 3 ½ cups. Diced Tomatoes– 1 can 14.5 oz drained.
- Bell Pepper -1 color of choice sliced.
- Green Beans- 1 cup chopped into 1″ pieces.
- Artichoke Hearts -1 can 14.1 oz cut in half
- Optional toppings as used in this recipe. 5 boiled eggs green onions- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley- ¼ cup chopped cherry tomatoes on the vine .
- Optional- Seasonings as desired. This can include Italian Seasonings Mediterranean Diet Seasoning Blend, Greek Seasoning Blend, Salt, and/or Pepper.
Instructions
- In a large shallow skillet on medium heat, warm two tablespoons of the oil for one minute then add the garlic, onion, paprika, saffron and rice and cook. Stir the ingredients so that the rice becomes well coated with the oil and ingredients. This should take about three minutes. You can add any optional seasonings here as well .
- Slowly add the broth and tomatoes and bring to boil at medium heat. Cook 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes without stirring.
- After 15 minutes of cooking add the bell pepper and green beans, mix gently and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, still without mixing.
- After the broth has evaporated, remove the paella from the heat and stir in the artichokes.
- Transfer the paella to a serving bowl or large serving dish.
Top with any of the optional toppings (green onions, fresh parsley, boiled eggs and grilled tomatoes if desired.) You can add any optional seasonings here as well .
Recipe Notes
Short grain and even medium grain rice is preferred over a long grain rice is suggested. For this particular recipe, Arborio rice (an Italian short-grain rice) is suggested. Also mentioned was that this recipe can easily be made vegan. Simply omit the hard boiled eggs if you choose to make this a Mediterranean diet and vegan recipe. The eggs are provided for both protein and presentation if you choose to keep them.
originally posted:
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Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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