Paella is one of the most famous Spanish dishes and it's one of my favorite ones too because I really love rice. This is not the traditional recipe because is a healthier vegan version, but it's quite similar and it tastes amazing, you need to give this awesome paella a try.
Use the veggies you want, I use different ingredients every time I make paella, it depends on the season or the vegetables I have in my kitchen. Sometimes I add seaweed too, like wakame or nori. Seaweed is a great fish alternative and it's also full of minerals.
Traditional paella is made with chicken or fish broth because it isn't usually vegan, but I've used this super easy to make vegetable broth, it's healthy, delicious and so simple. When I don't have vegetable broth I rehydrate dried seaweed in hot water and use this water to make the paella. If I don't have seaweed neither, I use water, but I never use store bought vegetable stock or stock cubes because they are full of unhealthy ingredients like monosodium glutamate.
I've used fresh and frozen veggies, but if you can use only fresh ones, good for you! Frozen vegetables are so convenient, cheap and you can eat veggies that are not in season.
Paella is usually made with Bomba rice or short grain rice, but I prefer to use Basmati because it has a lower glycemic index. Brown rice is a great alternative too, but it takes much longer to cook, although is healthier.
To get the beautiful yellow color you can use saffron or turmeric powder. Please don't use food dyes, turmeric is also really cheap and it's much healthier. Traditional paella is made with saffron, but it's more expensive than turmeric and also less easy to find, but you can use both. I've used paprika too, because I love how it taste, but it's optional.
I've used a paellera to cook my paella, it's a pan, traditionally round, shallow and made of polished steel with two handles, but you can use a regular pan or even a pot.
When you cook paella you don't have to stir the rice unlike risotto, but sometimes I do if rice sticks to the bottom of the pan, actually, there is usually a layer of toasted rice at the bottom of the pan, called socarrat here in Spain. It tastes amazing, but it's toxic and you can find benzopyrene in it, which is a dangerous carcinogen.
Vegan Spanish paella is really delectable. It's also cheaper, lighter and healthier than the traditional one. It's typical to sprinkle lemon juice over paella, so you can serve it with some lemon slices on top. Lemon juice is full of vitamin C and helps to detoxify the body. I hope you like this Spanish recipe, ¡qué aproveche! (enjoy your meal!).
Craving more vegan rice recipes? Explore my Vegan Fried Rice, Spanish Rice and Beans, and Vegan Red Beans and Rice for delightful plant-based options!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Spanish Paella
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic
- ½ onion
- ½ red bell pepper
- ½ Italian green pepper
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen artichoke hearts
- ½ cup frozen green beans
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 ¼ cups Basmati rice
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a paellera or a pan over medium heat and when it's hot, add the garlic, onion, red and green pepper (chopped). Cook until golden brown.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 5 or 10 minutes.
- Add the frozen veggies and cook 5 minutes more.
- Add the rice and cook until it begins to be translucent. Pour the vegetable broth (hot), add the turmeric powder, the sweet paprika, and salt and black pepper to taste.
- Stir the paella until all the ingredients are mixed and cook over medium or medium high heat for 15 or 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Add more vegetable broth if the rice is hard and dry.
- Let stand the paella (covered) for at least 5 or 10 minutes.
Rebekah says
Would it be possible to use long grain rice instead? Should I increase the amount of liquids? Thank you!
Iosune says
Hi Rebekah! Yes, you can use any type of rice you want, but probably you'll need to increase or decrease the amount of liquids. Have a nice day!
Lauran says
This looks fabulous - I am going to start eating vegan in January (I'm already vegetarian) and this is definitely getting bookmarked in my list of vegan recipes to try! Thank-you!
Iosune says
Hi Lauran! Thanks a lot 😀 Hope you enjoy it!
Victoria Beninga says
I always read reviews before I try a new recipe I see online, and the reviews looked good so I tried it. It was great! We had friends over, as well as our 18-year-old son, and everybody loved it. My friend asked for the recipe.
Iosune says
Hi Victoria! I'm so glad you liked it 😀 Thanks a lot for making the recipe 😉
Jackie says
Hi Iosune, I'm Jackie from Australia. Remeber? Travelled Spain and Loved authentic Paella. I can't believe I left comment back in Feb. WELL- Iosune it taken me to Our freezing Melbourne winter and JULY to try your recipe AND Wowzer !!!!! Exquisite . Yum . You are a star . Thank you for sharing . An absolute hit with ALL our family and three adult kids!
It must be San Firmen - oh how we wish we are there in spain!!!! Enjoy your summer! Jackie in Oz. X muchas Gracias x
Iosune says
Hi Jackie! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 I was born in Pamplona and enjoyed San Fermin son many times, although I don't like encierros and fullfighting 🙁 They make me sooo sad!
Myra says
Losune - First, I love your site and this recipe for spanish paella is great. many years ago i had regular paella in madrid and thought it was great. However, my diet has been changing to more vegan. Thanks again and keep the recipes coming!
Iosune says
Hi Myra! Thank you for your comment 🙂 Have a nice day!
Neil says
Going to make this but my kids will not be able to do Artichoke hearts. Any ideas for a good substitute?
Iosune says
Hi Neils! You can use any other veggie instead 😉
Pilar Recuenco says
I prepared this recipe and didn't have artichoke, so I used mushrooms and zucchini instead and it was so delicious.
thanks for the recipe.
Iosune says
Hi Pilar! You're so welcome 🙂 Feel free to use any veggies you have on hand to make paella, it's always delicious!
Jackie Thomas says
Hi my husaband and I travelled Spain for 12 weeks, we loved it. I'm a vegetarian and wherever we ate -paella was my go too. Your recipe looks so authentic to what we had, from cadequez, Pamploma, Malaga all over. Thank you for your sharing - I can't wait to try. I just hope I don't burn it! The only bad thing about Spain - it's not a part of our home of Australia. Jackie
Iosune says
Hi Jackie! I was born in Pamplona and I live in Málaga since I was 3 🙂 Thanks a lor for your kind words! Hope you enjoy the recipe!!!!
Seyaa says
Hi Iosune,
I lived in a school in Sagunto in Valencia for 3 weeks when I was 18. Every Sunday we had vegetarian Paella for dinner and as a result I don't like the traditional paella with seafood or chicken. I can't wait to try your recipe because it reminds me of that dish especially when u mention the sliced lemons on top. I'm so excited. Thanks for sharing.
Iosune says
Hi Seyaa! Hope you liked Spain 😉 Enjoy your vegan paella!
Lindsey says
Thank you for this recipe! I loved it and the directions were so easy to follow. I rarely cook rice and it came out perfect. I just adjusted a couple of the vegetables for those I had in my fridge.
Iosune says
Hi Lindsey! You're so welcome 😉 I'm so glad you liked the paella!
Cheryl says
Oh sorry but you cannot possibly call this Spanish or Paella. Basmati rice! Paella is made with short grain rice grown in the province of Valencia. The creamy starch slowly released during the coming is what makes it paella. What you have here is vegan jambalaya! Delicious I'm sure, but not Paella.
Iosune says
Hi Cheryl! I'm Spanish, so I know how to cook Paella. If you read the post, you will see I say Paella is usually made with Bomba rice or short grain rice, but I prefer to use Basmati because it has a lower glycemic index. Have a nice day!!!
Tara says
Hi! I just wanted to say how much I love your recipes for vegan Spanish food, those are my favourites. I look forward to more!
Tambien quería informaros que estaba buscando esta receta por Pinterest, y el link para esta pagina lo tienen bloqueado con un aviso de "possible suspicious content" - para que sepáis.
Iosune says
Hola Tara! Muchas gracias 🙂 Seguiremos compartiendo recetas españolas, no te preocupes 🙂 Muchas gracias por avisar del bloqueo de Pinterest! Un saludo!
Dylan says
I have found an amazing company to get Veggie bouillon cubes from. Totally natural ingredients and a wonderful flavor. No MSG. https://www.iherb.com/Rapunzel-Vegan-Vegetable-Bouillon-with-Herbs-8-Cubes-3-1-oz-88-g/30387
Iosune says
Hi Dylan! Thanks a lot!!! 🙂
Miriam says
We used quinoa as a substitute for rice--yum!
Iosune says
Hi Miriam! I've never made this recipe using quinoa, but it sounds great!
Rosanna says
I made this recipe last night for my Christmas party and it was a hit!.. I added green olives so I didn't add salt and omitted the peas.. I used snap peas instead of the green beans! Thank you Iosune!
Iosune says
Hi Rosanna! Yayyyy! I'm glad you liked it 😀 Thanks a lot for making the recipe!
Marcus says
This was super delicious!! I followed this recipe today and yesterday I did the Poor man's potatoes that you also have on this site, they are now two of my favourite foods! Thank you very much for posting these awesome recipes 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Marcus! Yay!!!! I'm glad you like the recipes 😀 Thanks a lot!
Stephanie says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! My boyfriend and I made the paella for dinner tonight and it was incredible. He kept commenting about how the dish was 'restaurant-quality' and that it was 'one of the best dishes we have ever made.' I am so glad I thought beforehand to increase the recipe, so that I have leftovers. I can't wait to eat the paella again for lunch tomorrow!
Iosune says
Hi Stephanie! I'm so happy you loved the recipe 😀 I really love paella, I eat it almost every week!!!
Angela says
Love your recipes ! Can't wait to make this 🙂 looks delicious!!
Iosune says
Hi Angela! Thank you 😀 I hope you like it!
Juan Carlos Rodriguez says
Thank you very much..... Muchas gracias por esta receta, la hare lo antes posible... y por favor sigan enviando mas recetas Españolas veganas... un beso y abrazo.
Iosune says
Gracias Juan Carlos! Tenemos un blog en español, danzadefogones.com con más recetas 😀 De todas formas seguiremos poniendo recetas españolas por aquí. Un beso!