Cauliflower rice paella! It is fast, easy and delicious, as well as naturally vegan, grain-free, keto-friendly and Paleo-friendly. Only 92 calories per satisfying serving, too.

Traveling home to the San Francisco Bay Area always inspires me with regard to food. Especially when it comes to produce. It isn't just the produce markets, open air stalls, and my mother's vegetable garden. It's also the simple, innovative vegetable preparations at restaurants and markets big and small that make me excited about recipes and recipe creation all over again.

My August trip was no different, and so I am keeping my pledge (made to myself, in my head :)) to make and share more easy, delicious vegetable dishes. One can only eat so much steamed broccoli and imbibe so many kale smoothies.

An all-vegetable paella seems like a delectable place to begin!

This vibrant dish is:

*Vegan
*Grain-free
*Paleo
*Keto
*Gluten-free

Cauliflower rice stands in for regular rice in this California-inspired paella. Cauliflower rice is a breeze to prepare (see my DIY cauliflower rice post), but you can also buy ready-to-use cauliflower rice (sold in bags in the produce department of many supermarkets).

Like rice, the cauliflower is a neutral backdrop, showcasing the bold flavors of the dish (e.g., spices, garlic, olive oil). Additionally, it cooks in about 5 minutes, a fraction of the time it take to cook rice.  

The other fresh elements of this paella are readily available and quickly prepared: sliced red bell pepper, chopped onions, garlic, parsley and green peas (these are frozen).

After sautéing the onion and bell pepper in a bit of olive oil, minced garlic is added, followed by diced tomatoes, spices and thyme. This paella is already a stretch from the traditional, so I have no problem with using ground turmeric in place of saffron (for golden color as well as flavor).

Before adding the cauliflower, stir in 2/3 cup water, low-sodium vegetable broth or white wine, whichever you prefer. 

Cook and stir for 30 seconds, and then add the cauliflower.  Cook, stirring to coat and combine the cauliflower, for 4 to 5 minutes until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Last, remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle with the peas. No need to defrost the peas! The heat from the warm ingredients and the pan will defrost and warm them. Cover the pan and let stand for 3 minutes.

Remove the lid, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with optional lemon wedges. Done!

This is hearty enough to be enjoyed as a main dish at lunchtime, or enjoy as a side. It rewarms well, too, so make it ahead of time and pack for several days worth of lunches. YUM!

Happy eating!

[tasty-recipe id="15878"]