What is typically in paella?

The main ingredients in every paella recipe are rice, vegetables, meat or seafood, and spices. From there, traditional Spanish paellas can vary significantly by region. Short grain rice and saffron are key for an authentic paella. If you're looking to up your paella game after trying this recipe, these fun Paella tips from Saveur can help.

What kind of rice do you use for paella?

Short grain white rice is the best rice to use for paella recipes. Traditional Spanish Paellas use Bomba rice. Arborio rice (used for risotto) and sushi rice make good substitutes. I used Arborio rice in this simplified recipe.

Do you pre-cook the rice?

You do not pre-cook rice for paella. Paella is a one-pan dish. By adding uncooked rice and boiling it in the pan with the other ingredients, the rice is better able to absorb the flavors of the paella.

What do you pair with paella?

Paella is often served as a stand-alone main dish because it includes so many healthy food groups in one pan. We often serve it with our Foolproof Gluten Free French Baguettes .

Super Easy Paella Recipe

Name: Super Easy Paella Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 16 uncooked shrimp, tails off and deveined (see notes for vegan)*; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 2 red bell peppers, sliced thinly and halved; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup tomato puree; 1 1/2 cups uncooked arborio rice; 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth; 1 lemon, juiced (1 lemon provides about 2 tablespoons of juice); ¼ cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley; 1 teaspoon paprika; ¼ teaspoon turmeric (or saffron -- see notes)**; 2 medium Bay leaves; ½ teaspoon ground cumin; ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Super Easy Paella Recipe

An easy shrimp paella served in a bowl with a lemon wedge and garnished with parsley.

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

This Easy Paella recipe needs only 10 main ingredients, 30 minutes, and one pan. It's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free and can be made with or without saffron. Substitute green peas for an easy vegan paella.

Author: Jamie
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4-5 servings 1x
Category: Dinner, Meal, Skillet
Method: Skillet
Cuisine: Spanish
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

16 uncooked shrimp, tails off and deveined (see notes for vegan)*
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, sliced thinly and halved
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup tomato puree
1 1/2 cups uncooked arborio rice
2 1/4 cups vegetable broth
1 lemon, juiced (1 lemon provides about 2 tablespoons of juice)
1/4 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

Spices

1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon turmeric (or saffron -- see notes)**
2 medium Bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

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Instructions

Sear the shrimp: In a large frying pan on medium heat, sear the shrimp -- cook for about 2 minutes total, flipping mid-way. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
Saute the vegetables: Add oil, onion, and bell pepper to the pan. Cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften, stirring on occasion to prevent burning or sticking. Lower the heat to medium and add garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant and golden brown.
Make the Sauce: Add tomato puree, rice, broth, parsley, and spices. Bring to a low boil for 15 minutes or until rice is mostly cooked, stirring on occasion.
Combine: Add shrimp and bury them in the paella. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring as needed. For a vegan paella, replace shrimp with pre-cooked or thawed frozen green peas.
Finish: Turn off the heat. If rice is still too firm, cover with a lid and towel (still no heat) until liquid is absorbed and rice is al dente. Add lemon juice or serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!

Notes

*Vegan/Green Peas: If adding green peas, add thawed or pre-cooked peas at the same time (or in place of) shrimp in step 4 of this recipe. I recommend thawing frozen peas first to keep cooking times consistent.

**Saffron: If using saffron, soak 2-3 strands in 2 tablespoons of warm water while you prep. Then add the saffron and water in place of turmeric in this recipe.

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Keywords: easy paella recipe, shrimp paella, paella recipe without saffron, easy vegan paella, quick paella recipe, healthy paella recipe, simple paella recipe

Find it online: https://vibrantlygfree.com/easy-paella-recipe/