Best 5 Best Vegetable Paella Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes evoke the vibrant flavors and cultural heritage of Spain quite like paella. This iconic dish, originating from the coastal regions of Valencia, has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide with its tantalizing blend of rice, vegetables, seafood, and meats. As you embark on a culinary journey to create the perfect vegetable paella, let us guide you through the essential steps and ingredients that will transform your kitchen into a symphony of aromas and flavors.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

VEGETABLE PAELLA



Vegetable Paella image

The best vegetable paella recipe! It's loaded with vegetables, chickpeas, and savory, smoky rice. This Spanish dish is perfect for serving at dinner parties, since it's vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Recipe yields 6 hearty servings.

Provided by Cookie and Kate

Categories     Main Dish

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 18

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt, divided
6 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes (preferably the fire-roasted variety), drained
2 cups short-grain brown rice*
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained, or 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
3 cups vegetable broth
1/3 cup dry white wine** or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled (optional)
1 can (14 ounces) quartered artichokes or 1 jar (12 ounces) marinated artichoke, drained
2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and sliced into long, 1/2"-wide strips
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, plus about 1 tablespoon more for garnish
2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus additional lemon wedges for garnish
1/2 cup frozen peas

Steps:

  • Arrange your oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, making sure that you have ample space between the two racks for your Dutch oven. You're going to need a large Dutch oven (preferably 6 quarts/11-to-12" in diameter or bigger, although I got by with my 5.5-quart Le Creuset) or a large skillet with a snug-fitting lid (both must be oven-safe!).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in your Dutch oven or skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions are tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the garlic and paprika and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and cook until the mixture begins to darken and thicken slightly, about 2 minutes Stir in the rice and cook until the grains are well coated with tomato mixture, about 1 minute. Stir in the chickpeas, broth, wine, saffron (if using) and 1 teaspoon salt.
  • Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cover the pot and transfer it to the lower rack in the oven. Bake, undisturbed, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 50 to 55 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. On the baking sheet, combine the artichoke, peppers, chopped olives, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and about 10 twists of freshly ground black pepper. Toss to combine, then spread the contents evenly across the pan.
  • Roast the vegetables on the upper rack until the artichokes and peppers are tender and browned around the edges, about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the vegetables cool for a few minutes. Add 1/4 cup parsley to the pan and the lemon juice, and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
  • For optional socarrat (crispy bottom-beware that you might have to scrub burnt bits from your pot later if you do this): Uncover the pot of baked rice, transfer it to the stovetop and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, rotating the pot as needed, until the bottom layer of rice is well browned and crisp.
  • Socarrat or not, sprinkle the peas and roasted vegetables over the baked rice, cover, and let the paella sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley (about 1 tablespoon) and serve in individual bowls, with lemon wedges on the side.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 entree serving, Calories 437 calories, Sugar 8.2 g, Sodium 1265.8 mg, Fat 15.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 71.4 g, Fiber 11.3 g, Protein 9.8 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

ROASTED VEGETABLE PAELLA



Roasted Vegetable Paella image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 pounds Holland bell peppers (red, yellow, and orange), cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
2 pounds fennel bulbs, tops and cores removed, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 pound baby eggplants, unpeeled, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
1 large red onion, 3/4-inch-diced
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (3/4-inch-diced) yellow onions (2 onions)
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 1/2 cups Spanish paella rice, such as Calasparra
1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, undrained, such as Mancini
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (not regular paprika)
5 to 6 cups simmering chicken stock, preferably homemade
3 ounces freshly grated aged Manchego cheese
1/2 cup pitted Manzanilla or Cerignola olives, halved
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Position two racks evenly spaced in the oven.
  • Put the bell peppers, fennel, eggplants, and red onion in a large bowl, add 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper, and toss. Divide the vegetables between two sheet pans and spread in one layer. Roast for 45 minutes, tossing occasionally.
  • Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a 14- to 16-inch paella pan or large (11-inch) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the yellow onions and saute for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and saffron and cook for one minute. Add the rice and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat the rice with oil. Place the jarred peppers (including their liquid) and paprika in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until pureed. Pour the mixture into the paella pan, stirring to combine, and bring to a boil. Add 1 cup of the hot stock and 2 teaspoons salt and cook uncovered over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, as you would cook risotto. Continue to cook the rice over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring in 1 cup of hot stock at a time whenever the liquid is absorbed, until the rice is al dente
  • Add the vegetables to the paella, add one more cup of stock, and stir carefully. If the paella is dry, add more hot stock. Off the heat, stir in the Manchego cheese, olives, and scallions. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

VEGETABLE PAELLA



Vegetable Paella image

An easy, healthy and filling paella-style dish of vegetables and rice.

Provided by quierounvaquero

Time 1h

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 green and 1 red pepper, cored and diced
1 cup (that's cup and not mug) of peas (frozen are fine)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp paprika
a good pinch of saffron threads (not absolutely necessary), dissolved in
800ml chicken or vegetable stock
ground black pepper
250-300g any long or short grain rice
chopped parsley, optional, as much as you like

Steps:

  • Prepare all the ingredients and have them lined up in front of you in the order listed above - sounds a bit pedantic, I know, but always makes cooking easier.
  • Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add the onions and garlic, cover and cook for about 3 minutes until soft. Then add the peppers and peas, stir in, cover again and cook for a few more minutes.
  • Make a well in the centre, put the tomatoes in the well and the paprika on top. Then add the stock (with the saffron if you have it), but make sure it doesn't overflow: if it gets more then half a cm close to the rim of the pan, stop adding stock and just use less rice. Season with pepper and stir.
  • Scatter as much of the rice as you think will fit over the stock (depends on your pan, really), stir it in gently, then allow it to simmer gently until the liquid has absorbed and the rice is cooked. This could take about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Test a bit of the rice to see if it's cooked, add a bit of stock or hot water if it is not done.
  • Stir in the parsley a few minutes before it has finished cooking, if you want to use it, then serve hot. It's also pretty nice cold and should keep for a few days in the fridge.

VEGAN PAELLA



Vegan Paella image

This is a twist on a Spanish-favorite. Use seitan, tofu, or tempeh to add a protein element. I substituted turmeric for the traditional saffron to cut costs.

Provided by chefcs

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Spanish

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 cups boiling water
1 cup white rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 tomato, diced
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup peas
1 cup drained and quartered canned artichoke hearts

Steps:

  • Mix boiling water and rice together in a bowl; let stand for 20 minutes. Drain.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is transparent, about 5 minutes. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and tomato; cook and stir until peppers are slightly tender, about 3 minutes.
  • Mix rice and vegetable broth into onion-pepper mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer. Add paprika, salt, and turmeric; cover skillet and simmer until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir peas and artichoke hearts into rice mixture and cook until heated through, about 1 minute more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 308.1 calories, Carbohydrate 58.8 g, Fat 4.6 g, Fiber 6.8 g, Protein 8.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 1103.3 mg, Sugar 7.8 g

VEGETABLE PAELLA



Vegetable Paella image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 - 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

8 vine-ripened plum tomatoes
Kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 large bulb fennel, cut into 8 wedges
8 baby artichokes, trimmed and halved (see Cook's Note)
1 large Japanese eggplant, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed
2 cups dry white wine
2 1/2 cups short-grain paella rice
4 ounces haricots verts or string beans, halved if large
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup piquillo or roasted red peppers, cut into strips
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Core the tomatoes, cut into wedges and place in a medium bowl; season with salt, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and toss. Set aside.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or a paella pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, paprika, cayenne and saffron and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the fennel wedges and cook until lightly browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the fennel and add the baby artichokes and eggplant to the skillet; cook until slightly tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and simmer until reduced by about one-third. Stir in the rice and 1 3/4 teaspoons salt; add just enough water to cover the rice completely, 2 1/2 to 3 cups. Increase the heat to high and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Scatter the haricots verts and 2 tablespoons capers over the rice. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange the tomatoes on top; drizzle with any tomato juices.
  • Transfer the paella to the oven and bake, undisturbed, for 20 minutes. Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons capers and the piquillo peppers over the paella. Turn off the oven but leave the paella inside to continue cooking until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 more minutes. Garnish with parsley, if desired

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly affect the final flavor of your paella. Use fresh, flavorful vegetables, and high-quality seafood and chicken.
  • Cook the rice properly: The rice is the foundation of paella, so it's important to cook it properly. Use a medium-grain rice, such as Valencia or Bomba rice, and cook it in a flavorful broth. The rice should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan: When cooking paella, it's important to not overcrowd the pan. This will prevent the rice from cooking evenly and will make the paella soggy.
  • Add the seafood and chicken at the right time: The seafood and chicken should be added to the paella towards the end of the cooking time. This will help to prevent them from overcooking and becoming tough.
  • Garnish the paella before serving: Before serving the paella, garnish it with fresh herbs, such as parsley or cilantro. This will add a pop of color and flavor to the dish.

Conclusion:

Vegetable paella is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and it's also a relatively healthy dish. If you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook vegetables, give vegetable paella a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics