Quick and Easy Paella
I was very honored when Tara at Noshing with the Nolands asked me to guest post on her blog. I’ve loved Tara’s recipes for a long time now, so I wanted to make something special for her blog.
I think Spanish Paella is a great special dish; it’s fancy and filled with yumminess. But, I think most people aren’t going to take the time to get a Paella pan and cook up a big batch of the seafood & rice stew. Thus, enter the Quick and Easy Paella made with orzo instead of rice. All the flavors of Paella, but easier and more accessible to many people, and, my version has lots of veggie goodness.
This basic recipe is vegan, budget-friendly, and pretty quick. I love to make this for my husband to take to lunch with him. I prep everything the day before, package it in a dish, and it’s an easy way for him to have a healthy yummy lunch that he can eat at his desk (though I’d prefer he get away from his desk, I know how he really is so I try to make sure it’s easy to eat). For his lunch, I’ll throw in some shredded chicken. For me, I like it in the simple vegan version.
If you’d like to add more protein to the dish, I suggest cooked shrimp, clams, chicken, or tofu will work well.
Hop over to Noshing with the Nolands to check out my Quick and Easy Paella recipe or scroll down for the recipe card.
Quick and Easy Vegetarian Paella Recipe
Quick and Easy Paella
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or light tasting oil of your choice
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup orzo
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 pinch saffron threads, optional
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dry white wine
- 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
- ¼ cup chopped jarred red peppers
- ¾ cup canned artichoke quarters, drained
- Fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook until onion is soft and starting to brown, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If onion starts cooking too quickly, add a little water to the pan to slow the cooking. Add orzo and cook until orzo starts to toast, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth, smoked paprika, saffron, salt, and pepper. Cover skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add white wine, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Add peas, chopped red pepper, and artichokes, and toss to combine, cooking until veggies are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley or chopped chives.
Recipe Notes
Makes 4 servings
Culinary Ginger says
January 4, 2015 at 9:39 amWow, what a stunning dish and I love the use of orzo. Heading over to Tara’s now for the recipe.
Adrienne Grace says
January 4, 2015 at 11:13 amI’m definitely going to try out this recipe this week — sounds delicious!
Lovefoodies says
January 4, 2015 at 1:18 pmwell well well! SUPERLICIOUSNESS! I love the recipe and your photo is very nice too!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
January 4, 2015 at 4:38 pmThis looks fabulous! I LOOOOVE the idea of using orzo and the veggies you added, it sounds just fabulous!
grabaplate says
January 4, 2015 at 6:54 pmOoo! One of my fave dishes! This sounds amazing (and amazingly easy)! Your pix are drool-worthy!
mealplanmaven says
January 4, 2015 at 7:48 pmOMG I love this dish and I haven’t even tasted it yet! So colorful and full of great flavors!
mikewinsc says
January 5, 2015 at 7:41 amVery unique take on a classic. Love the artichoke idea
christine says
January 5, 2015 at 8:09 amThis looks like it is packed with flavor. Can’t wait to head over to get the recipe.
Vanessa Marquiss Barker says
January 5, 2015 at 9:20 amThis looks so good.
Britni says
January 5, 2015 at 9:50 amPaella sounds amazing! I’ve been wanting to do this, but don’t have the time yet.
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
January 5, 2015 at 11:52 amI LOVE Paella. What a lovely dish to warm up to this time of the year!
Britney says
January 5, 2015 at 1:16 pmThis is awesome! Thanks for a new recipe!
Michelle F. says
January 5, 2015 at 1:54 pmThat looks really delicious. I love that you used orzo in it.
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
January 5, 2015 at 2:59 pmThis looks like a yummy dish!!
Michele says
January 5, 2015 at 4:14 pmLooks delicious and sounds pretty easy to make. Of course I would throw in some shrimp, mussels and lobster meat!
Stephanie Keeping says
January 5, 2015 at 4:44 pmThis sounds amazing and easy. I was just looking for different meals to try.
Heather says
January 5, 2015 at 5:18 pmYum! Looks like there’s some spice and I love that! Love easy too!
Our Mini Family (@ourminifamily) says
January 5, 2015 at 7:28 pmLove paella! YUM! Thanks for this recipe!
Becky says
January 5, 2015 at 7:46 pmLove the added veggies and the use of orzo! This is my kind of dish 🙂
michaela403 says
January 5, 2015 at 8:52 pmSomebody give me a spoon! A BIG SPOON! That looks sensational!
Melanie says
January 5, 2015 at 8:58 pmThis looks like a delicious dish! Added veggies are always a plus!
Meagan says
January 5, 2015 at 9:13 pmThis looks so incredibly good! I really want this for dinner tonight. I’ll be trying this out for sure!
naptimecreationsemily says
January 5, 2015 at 10:20 pmthat look SOO good! the flavors in this type of rice are amazing!
Stephanie Pass says
January 6, 2015 at 2:18 amThat looks like a gorgeous dish! I’ve never had paella. Off to check it out!
Debra says
January 6, 2015 at 8:39 amThis sounds delicious! Looks so good!
Scott says
January 6, 2015 at 9:01 amI have never had paella, will have to stop over and check out the recipe!
Debra says
January 6, 2015 at 10:16 amI think my husband would love this. It looks so good!
Sandra @ A Dash of Sanity says
January 6, 2015 at 10:56 amThis would be fun! I haven’t had paella in a really long time!
Carisa says
January 6, 2015 at 3:06 pmOh YUM!!
Caitlin says
January 6, 2015 at 3:07 pmI’ve only had paella a few times and first learned about it on Top Chef – I think it is super delicious and I love your recipe and think it sounds like it would be great with chicken:)
Maggie @ The Love Nerds says
January 6, 2015 at 7:05 pmThere is a restaurant by us that makes amazing paella and we love it, so I’m excited I can make a homemade version now! Thank you!
Kristin says
January 6, 2015 at 8:30 pmThat needs to land on our dinner menu STAT! Yum!
Rebecca Hubbell says
January 8, 2015 at 11:13 amThis looks great and super flavorful, adding to our weeknight meal plan!
rachjyerkes says
January 8, 2015 at 5:00 pmI love paella and don’t make it nearly enough. I need to add this to my life! Thanks.
Adrienne Grace says
January 13, 2015 at 10:14 amJust to follow up, I did make this and added shrimp. With the exception of the 17-year-old boy (no surprise there,) it was a hit! In fact, there was a request to add it into “regular rotation.” 😀
Debi says
January 13, 2015 at 10:16 amAwesome! I’m glad you guys liked it! Anything simple and tasty is great!
Nicole Neverman says
January 25, 2015 at 3:16 pmWhat a fantastic idea to use orzo instead of paella rice! It sounds really tasty and makes this dish so much more accessible to the everyday kitchen 🙂
Culinary Flavors says
February 8, 2015 at 8:45 amI love paella but it is a pain in the neck to make it! Thanks for sharing this easy tweak!