Cauliflower Rice Paella

Enjoy this classic Spanish dish with a grain-free makeover using cauliflower rice! This Cauliflower Rice Paella is packed with flavor and spices, and yet, so simple to make for a busy weeknight! It all comes together on a skillet in less than 30 minutes. Paleo, Gluten-Free, grain free, with a Whole30 option. 

Another day, another way to enjoy an amazing low carb version of a classic dish!! As a nutritionist and recipe developer, I love to take traditional food and make it better for you. That is exactly what we are doing with this Cauliflower Rice Paella!

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that is loaded with flavors and spices like: smoked paprika, saffron, chorizo, tomatoes, seafood (or sometimes chicken) bell pepper, a quality wine, and more!!! It is traditionally served and cooked in rice.

Spanish Cauliflower Rice (with Chorizo, Chicken & Shrimp)

You know the moment when you meet a new friend in your adulthood and instantly just click? You want to hug him/her and say, “where have you been all of my life?” That’s kind of how I felt about Paella the first time I tried it in Spain several years ago. She’s like my sister from another mister. How did I not know about this dish growing up?

Clearly, once I tasted a bite of this pure delicious cuisine, I became obsessed with trying it at every Spanish restaurant. And maybe trying every Spanish restaurant I could find. I love that traveling ignites this passion for food and possibilities. Plus, I kind of became a fan of sangria. Sangria + Paella might be the perfect meal.

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Low Carb Arroz Con Pollo Recipe

We're taking the traditional Spanish Paella and lightening it up with cauliflower rice! Less than 30 minutes until dinner is on the table.This Paleo Paella is a low carb version of traditional paella that is made with cauliflower rice! An easy weeknight dinner that’s healthy. It’s also Whole30, and Keto.

Paella is a dish that I had been wanting to try to “de-grain” for a long time but was always worried that the end result would be a spicy plate of mush.

It turns out I had nothing to worry about but because this dish completely exceeded any expectation I had on what a grain free paella would taste like. The flavours are spot on, exactly like traditional paella and the texture is similar to the Spanish rice dish, but a whole lot lighter due to the substitution of cauliflower. I was even able to get the cauliflower rice to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, my favourite part about traditional paella.

Shellfish Paella With Cauliflower Rice

This Paleo Paella is very easy to make and incredibly versatile. In this recipe I used pancetta, chorizo, chicken and prawns but you can really use a combination of any meat or seafood you have on hand including pork, beef, fish, mussels, shrimp or squid. To keep the texture of this dish as similar to rice based paella as possible, be sure to only pulse the cauliflower for a few seconds in the food processor so the rice is quite coarse (not fine and powdery like cauliflower couscous).

Paleo Paella is a terrific mid week dinner (the leftovers are great to take for lunch the next day) but is equally as impressive as a dish to serve to guests. I hope you enjoy!

If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!

Low Carb Curried Riced Cauliflower With Shrimp

A low carb version of traditional paella that is made with cauliflower rice! An easy weeknight dinner that's healthy. (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

Calories: 303 kcal Carbohydrates: 13 g Protein: 27 g Fat: 16 g Sodium: 757 mg Potassium: 732 mg Fiber: 4 g Sugar: 6 g Iron: 3 mgThis keto paella is is packed with flavour and has only 7.4g net carbs! It's a cauliflower rice paella with both meat and seafood and takes just 20 minutes to prepare. A delicious family-friendly keto recipe.

We love to go to Spain on holidays and even lived in Ibiza for a year when our kids a smaller. That's how I've had many, many very good authentic paellas over the years.

Blackened Bbq Shrimp, Andouille Sausage & Cauliflower Dirty Rice

I've been wanting to make a keto version of paella for a long time and I'm so happy I finally got around to it! It really lives up to the original and makes a terrific midweek lunch or dinner.

One cup of regular paella contains almost 40g net carbs because of the rice. White rice is highly processed and depleted of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

By replacing the rice with cauliflower, the net carbs reduce to an incredible 7.4g per portion. It also reduces the calories to just 273, making it a very light dish.

Keto Cauliflower Seafood Paella

I'm also pleased to report that I still managed to re-create my favourite bit of paella: the cauliflower rice caramelized and stuck to the bottom of the pan. Yum!

Here are our ingredients. I've included saffron strands as you would in a traditional paella recipe. The saffron tastes beautiful and also gives the dish its famous yellow colour.

Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large non stick frying pan. Add the chicken and onion and cook for 4 minutes on a medium heat.

Australian Prawn & Chorizo Paella Recipe

And now the cauliflower rice pealla is really coming together: Add the riced cauliflower, chicken broth and shrimp and cook for about 7 mins, or until the rice and prawns are cooked to your liking.

Check the seasoning and adjust to taste. I added lemon juice, chopped parsley and stirred through 2 further tablespoon olive oil to serve.

First of all, use fresh cauliflower. If it's been in the fridge for a week it starts taking on a stronger flavour. We don't want that!

Easy Cauliflower Rice Paella (mexican Style!)

Split the florets into two to three batches and pulse rather than blitz. This ensures the cauliflower rice isn’t too fine. It’s much better if it’s coarse and not like snow.

Swap and change the meat and seafood to your liking! For example, you can leave out the chicken and chorizo and add mussels and squid to make this a seafood paella.

You can use raw or dried preservative free chorizo sausage. If you use raw chorizo, cook it for 3 - 4 more minutes first before adding the onions. I used dried chorizo.

Mixed Seafood Paella

I like to use smoked paprika in this dish for a lovely subtle smoked flavour. However, regular sweet paprika is also nice.

As an alternative to cauliflower rice you could also use shirataki rice. It's made from the konjac root, which is an Asian root vegetable that is extremely low in carbs.

Store your paella in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Alternatively, freeze for up to 3 months.

Cauliflower Rice Seafood Paella

A terrific midweek lunch or light keto dinner! This easy keto paella has all the flavours we love in a traditional Spanish paella. A firm family favourite, whether low carb or not!

Note: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.

Split the cauliflower florets into two batches to make sure the cauliflower rice isn’t too fine. It’s much better if it’s coarse and not like snow. Pulse, don’t blitz.

Shrimp Paella With Cauliflower Rice

Calories: 273 kcal Total Carbohydrates: 11.3 g Protein: 17.3 g Fat: 18.5 g Saturated Fat: 4.3 g Fiber: 3.9 g Sugar: 5.3 g