Low Carb Paella

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  • prep time

    prep time

    20 min

  • cook time

    cook time

    20 min

  • ready time

    ready time

    40 min

Low Carb Paella

This paella is a classic Keto Spanish food turned low carb. Diced red and yellow bell pepper along with onion and garlic are simmered in olive oil. Then, diced tomatoes are added along with white wine, bay leaves, and smoked paprika. Instead of rice, cauliflower rice is added and simmered in the tomato sauce. The top of the rice is studded with shrimp, mussels, and calamari. The final dish is seasoned with a sprinkling of fresh lemon juice. Keto Paella is easy and also Paleo-friendly! Not to mention, this dish is full of fiber from vegetables and plenty of protein from the delicious seafood. You will need to add this one to your list of Keto diet Spanish recipes!

What if I do not like seafood?

If seafood isn’t for you, feel free to replace the meat with lean chicken to keep the macros similar.

Does this paella form a crust at the bottom?

Due to the low carb nature of this dish, cauliflower rice does not form a crust as a traditional paella would.

Can I make this dish vegan?

Yes, substitute all the seafood for a vegan meat substitute.

Serving suggestions

To make the ultimate pairing, serve Keto Paella with our Keto Bread Rolls:

https://www.carbmanager.com/recipe-detail/ug:412f692f-85c4-4859-821b-70b83a90928f/keto-bread-rolls

  • Net Carbs

    8.8 g

  • Fiber

    3.7 g

  • Total Carbs

    12.6 g

  • Protein

    19.2 g

  • Fats

    12.8 g

243 cals

Low Carb Paella

#1 Low Carb & Keto Diet App Since 2010

Track macros, calories, and access top Keto recipes.

Download on the App Store
Get in on Google Play

Ingredients

  • Extra virgin olive oil

    Extra virgin olive oil

    0.25 cup

  • Red pepper

    Red pepper

    0.25 large - 3" diameter x 3 3/4"

  • Yellow pepper

    Yellow pepper

    0.25 large - 3" diameter x 3 3/4"

  • Garlic

    Garlic

    4 clove

  • Salt, sea salt

    Salt, sea salt

    0.25 tsp

  • Petite Diced Tomatoes

    Petite Diced Tomatoes

    8 fl oz

  • White wine

    White wine

    0.25 cup

  • Bay Leaf

    Bay Leaf

    2 leaf

  • Smoked Paprika

    1 tsp

  • Cauliflower rice

    Cauliflower rice

    24 oz

  • Shrimp

    Shrimp

    8 oz

  • Mussel, raw

    Mussel, raw

    8 oz

  • Calamari

    Calamari

    4 oz

  • Parsley

    Parsley

    1 tbsp, chopped

  • Lemon

    Lemon

    2 wedge - 1/8 of medium

Recipe Steps

steps 4

40 min

  • Step 1

    Dice the red bell pepper and the yellow bell pepper. Mince the garlic cloves. Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add in the olive oil and swirl the pan to coat. Add in the diced vegetables and saute for 30 seconds to one minute. Add ¼ tsp sea salt to the pan and stir well.
    Step 1
  • Step 2

    Add in the diced tomatoes and white wine. Since the cauliflower rice being added later contains plenty of water, no additional liquid is needed at this step. Add the bay leaves and smoked paprika, stir well. Add in the cauliflower rice and stir well to combine.
    Step 2
  • Step 3

    Top the cauliflower rice with the mussels, raw shrimp, and calamari pieces. Make sure all the pieces are evenly spaced for a pretty presentation. Also, make sure they are pressed down slightly so they will reach the heat from the bottom of the pan.
    Step 3
  • Step 4

    Allow the paella to cook over medium to medium-high heat until the seafood is cooked thoroughly on top. Dress the paella with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
    Step 4

Comments 7

  • zoepat21

    zoepat21 2 years ago

    Yes it was surprisingly good. I know it’s not ‘a’ paella but I reckon if you added some chorizo and chicken it would be more tasty (obvs you need to recheck carbs etc) plus add more salt n paprika. My husband didn’t even realise it wasn’t rice !!!

    • JenM

      JenM 3 years ago

      Needs some saffron, chicken and sausage to be a bit more authentic.

      • SpectacularKetone883928

        SpectacularKetone883928 3 years ago

        I am Spanish and Paella is one of Spain's gastronomy most sacred dishes. Sorry but this doesn't have ONE single ingredient in common with the paella besides the seafood, it's complete sacrilege to call it like that. Also, the patatas bravas recipe: chipotle mayo? Really??? That doesn't even grow here. Cultural appropriation alert.

        • TerrorSmurf

          TerrorSmurf a year ago

          Agreed. I also live in Spain and I really wouldn't have called this a Paella. It'd have simply said it was some sort of seafood cauli rice dish instead. I think you *could* do a more authentic Paella using cauli rice but obviously you have the issue of not having a carbohydrate to soak up all the lovely seafood stock.

        • EdieM

          EdieM 2 years ago

          These recipes aren't meant to be like the original, just a Keto-friendly take on it to make things interesting, tasty, and waaaay more carb/calorie friendly than the original. I appreciate these recipes immensely, so keep up the great work, Carb Manager! 🥰

        • AwesomeAvocado276182

          AwesomeAvocado276182 2 years ago

          This comment made me laugh. Thanks :)

        • MrsKrave

          MrsKrave 3 years ago

          I don’t think it’s meant to be exactly like OG Paella. It’s meant to be a healthy keto paella. You could always swap ingredients just make sure you use keto friendly ingredients. I made this it was pretty darn good & very close to OG paella. The ingredients that are missing are not keto friend. I.e peas, rice, wine. You could always add more of the ingredients listed but just remember you may go over your net carbs. Good luck