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Cauliflower Paella Recipe

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Caluiflower Paella Recipe
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Seafood Recipes » Cauliflower Paella Recipe

Paella is a traditional rice dish from eastern Spain that was traditionally cooked over an open fire. It can include practically any ingredient that goes well with rice, but seafood variations are seem to be the most common.

Paella has a rich yellow color from use of saffron and complex flavors from other spices, onions, peppers, and garlic. Never used saffron before? It has a long history of use beyond its delicate food flavoring. From Mountain Rose Herbs:

Saffron has a well-deserved reputation as being the most expensive of herbs and spices, even when one considers that no more than a thread or two of the precious spice is needed to flavor an entire meal. Besides its culinary uses, though, saffron has a long history of medicinal use, both in Eastern and Western traditions. Seen as mostly a culinary herb for decades, the new interest in herbal remedies is bringing saffron’s medicinal properties back into the limelight. The herb was mentioned in the Bible, and was used by ancient Greeks, Indians and Egyptians.

grain free seafood paella

This recipe can be easily customized to use any protein source you like (chicken, sausage, fish, shrimp, oysters, etc.) or all of the above. Many paella recipes contain a mix of proteins. Though the original recipe calls for rice, I substitute grated cauliflower for a boost of nutrients and to make a grain free dish.

Paella is NOT a quick meal to prepare, but the extra work is well worth it!

Caluiflower Paella Recipe

Cauliflower Paella

A delicious grain free paella made with cauliflower rice and choice of meat, sausage, or seafood (or all of them) for a filling and healthy meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Calories 420kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

6 +

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil or butter in a large flat skillet.
  • Saute the chorizo until browned and remove from pan.
  • Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and add to pan.
  • Cook until cooked through and browned and remove.
  • In the skillet, saute the finely diced onion, tomatoes, bell pepper and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat until onions are translucent.
  • Using a food processor or cheese grater, grate the cauliflower until it is in small, rice-size pieces.
  • Add the cauliflower to pan with the vegetables.
  • Pour in chicken broth and clam stock.
  • Add saffron, salt, black pepper, and paprika and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.
  • While that is simmering, add ½ inch of water to a small pan and bring to a boil.
  • Add the clams and oysters cook at least 5 minutes until they have opened up. Do not use any that don’t open! Cook oysters and set aside.
  • When the cauliflower is starting to get tender, add the shrimp and continue to cook until pink.
  • When shrimp and cauliflower are cooked and cauliflower is bright yellow from the saffron, add the cooked sausage, chicken, clams, and oysters to the top of the pan.
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley and squeeze lemon wedges on top just before serving.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cauliflower Paella
Amount Per Serving (1 /6 of total)
Calories 420 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 8.2g51%
Cholesterol 224mg75%
Sodium 1453mg63%
Carbohydrates 22.8g8%
Fiber 3.5g15%
Sugar 6.6g7%
Protein 39g78%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Ever made paella? What ethnic foods do you enjoy? Share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

5 responses to “Cauliflower Paella Recipe”

  1. Rebecca C Avatar
    Rebecca C

    We will definitely have to try this! I’ve only had paella once (made by my brother-in-law), and he didn’t use any salt at all. It was sad. Kind of turned me off paella for a while, but I’d really like to try it again.

  2. micita Avatar
    micita

    How much cauliflower? I don’t see it in the ingredients, and I’m eager to try this yummy-sounding dish – Thanks!

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