This vegetable paella recipe is the answer to a budget paella. Weโre using cheap and delicious, vibrant veggies to replace the meat/fish traditionally used in a Spanish paella.
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To make this vegetable paella I swapped the saffron (super expensive)! with a tiny dash of turmeric, to provide the gorgeous bright yellow colour thatโs associated with paella. Donโt worry, it doesnโt taste like turmeric. It all comes together in one pot, so we can spend less time cleaning and more time admiring our delicious vegetable paella.
To save on costs and still be able to make the delicious yellow rice, see 12 Best Substitutes for Saffron
Paella Rice
Short-grain rice contains more starch than long grain rice and ideal for this vegetable paella dish, as the grains are shorter and tend to stick together when cooked. If you are on a budget, I’ve used what ever rice I have in the cupboard as you can still enjoy this dish with all it’s flavours and added vegetables.
Peas, Onions, Garlic and Peppers
The essential combination of vegetables for this paella, don’t skip any of these!
Lemon and Parsley
A squeeze of lemon adds the citrous tanginess and a sprinkle of parsley peppery taste of parsley adds the final flavour to this comforting and satisfying dish.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
3. Add half a tin of chopped tomatoes & sliced red peppers and bring to simmer, before adding the stock and green beans (Image 3).
4. Next add the rice and simmer for 30 minutes (Image 4).
5. Keep adding an extra splash of water, if the stock has absorbed and the rice is still cooking. Add the peas in the last 5 minutes (Image 5).
6. Taste the rice and when the paella is ready, squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the pan. Before you serve, decorate the paella with lemon wedges around the edge and sprinkle some fresh parsley over the top. Enjoy! (Image 6).
Here are some other paella dishes to try: Chicken and Chorizo Paella and Loaded Vegetable Paella
Other recipes you’ll love with rice ; Easy Cajun Dirty Rice, Turkey Mince Recipe and Golden Vegetable Pilaf
You can use a variety of vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, peas, artichokes, asparagus, courgettes and green beans. Feel free to use your favorite vegetables or whatever is in season
Allow the flavours to bloom and the rice to cook by adding a few ladles of stock at a time. Add your vegetables along the way so as not to overcook them. Try not to stir (maybe a couple of times) and once the rice is ready, leave to stand for 10 minutes before serving with the lemon and parsley.
Yes, adding spices and seasonings is essential to flavour this vegetable paella. Some common seasonings include saffron (for traditional flavor and vibrant color) but to reduce costs, I used smoked paprika, turmeric and stock cubes. Add plenty of salt and pepper and adjust the seasonings according to your taste preferences.
Here are some sweet recipes to try after the paella: Chocolate Tiffin Cake, Chocolate Brownies and Lemon Drizzle Cake
If you tried this Vegetable Paella recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐ Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x