Inspired by traditional Spanish paella, this keto seafood paella recipe is filled with flavorful spices, chorizo, and the seafood of your choice. Craft this versatile dish with seasonal ingredients for a quick and easy meal, or serve it at a Spanish-inspired dinner party!
Why you’ll love this keto seafood paella recipe
Paella is well-loved for its complex flavor combinations, hearty ingredients, and endless variations. Traditionally a Spanish dish, paella is filled with whatever is on hand, focusing on fresh local ingredients.
My keto paella follows the tradition of seaside communities filled with seafood along with tasty chorizo.
And while this dish normally has a base of Spanish rice, I made a low-carb swap for cauliflower rice. In other words, it’s totally keto-friendly!
The best part of this cauliflower rice seafood paella is just how customizable it is. You can swap out any of the proteins or vegetables for what you prefer. It’s an incredible “clear the fridge” meal.
Ingredients needed
The beauty of paella is that the ingredients are often different each time you make it!
If you’re new to the dish or are looking for some low-carb inspiration, my Spanish seafood paella recipe is a delicious place to start.
Here are my suggested ingredients (though feel free to get creative!):
Olive oil
A little fat content is always welcome on a keto diet!
Olive oil prevents our vegetables from sticking along with great flavor.
Garlic
Garlic is a low-carb vegetable that provides maximum flavor to any dish it encounters.
Seafood
The star of these seafood paella ingredients is, of course, seafood!
For the best results, I recommend using a variety of fresh seafood in your dish. Some tasty additions include:
- Shrimp
- Prawns
- Clams
- Mussels
- Monkfish
- Lobster
Chorizo
In addition to seafood, I love adding diced chorizo to paella for its subtle spice and even more protein. It pairs wonderfully with seafood like shrimp.
Bell peppers
For color, brightness, and a dose of vitamin C, I added yellow and red bell peppers to this recipe.
Bell peppers are low-carb vegetables that are slightly sweet and crunchy and are a staple in most paella recipes.
Tomato
Grated tomato adds extra acidity to this dish. Tomatoes are one of the best fruits for a ketogenic diet because of their low-carb count!
Green peas
On most keto diets, legumes like green peas aren’t recommended as protein sources. A half cup divided by four portion sizes, however, makes it a suitable (and yummy!) ingredient in this paella.
Cauliflower rice
Traditional paella rice calls for either arborio rice or another form of long-grain rice. These, of course, are not keto-approved.
Instead, I created a cauliflower rice paella!
For convenience, you can even buy cauliflower rice frozen and ready to cook.
Seasoning
To season this recipe, I’ve included smoked paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper, and fresh chopped parsley.
In addition, I use broth to cook my paella, allowing the flavors to soak into each element. You can use any broth of your choice, from chicken stock to fish stock.
Cooking tips
While cooking your seafood paella, follow these tips for the perfect dish:
- Use a traditional paella pan made from carbon steel for cooking.
- Allow your paella to cook undisturbed when indicated, letting a golden crust form on the bottom of the pan.
- Use a healthy amount of oil for best results.
How to make keto seafood paella
This easy seafood paella recipe comes together in under an hour for an impressive dish. Here are the simple steps:
Flavor your oil
Begin by heating your olive oil in a large paella pan over medium heat. Alternatively, you could use a normal skillet.
Add your garlic to the pan and sauté. Your garlic should be fragrant, and your oil will be infused with its essence!
Sauté chorizo
Chorizo is a classic paella ingredient. Add it to your pan, cooking for another few minutes.
You’ll know it’s done when it has become slightly crispy and is beginning to release its oils.
Include vegetables and spices
Saute your bell peppers next until they’ve softened. Then, add your cauliflower rice and seasonings.
Because cauliflower rice is so quick to cook, this step only takes a minute. The goal is simply to thoroughly coat your vegetables with the spices.
Add flavorful extras
Finally, it’s time to add some fun extras! You can feel free to get creative with this step, adding ingredients you have on hand.
I chose grated tomato, chopped parsley, and green peas for my additions. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper!
Then, pour in your broth, stir to combine, and bring your dish to a simmer.
Cook your seafood
The main event of this dish is the seafood. Add whichever seafood you have chosen (shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, etc.) to the dish, spreading evenly on top of your mixture.
Then, set it and forget it! Cook for another 10-15 minutes until your seafood is cooked through.
Finish your keto seafood paella
To finish your seafood paella, remove it from the heat and let it sit for just a few minutes.
Garnish with a bit of chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and you’re ready to enjoy your meal!
What to serve with keto seafood paella
In my opinion, seafood paella is best enjoyed with thick slices of crunchy bread topped with fresh tomato slices and olive oil. You can use store-bought keto bread or make your own low-carb bread.
I have recipes for coconut flour bread, easy quick bread, and pumpkin seed bread that would all work well toasted.
Spanish paella also pairs naturally with tapas, or small dishes, like a side spinach salad, air fryer turnips, or roasted artichoke hearts.
You could even up the nutritional value by adding a side of vegetables like green beans or bell peppers. For this, try my green beans almondine or oven-roasted vegetables.
Finally, you could pair this seafood paella with shrimp-focused side dishes like blackened shrimp, grilled shrimp kabob, or shrimp scampi.
Variations
A traditional paella recipe has no limits on its variations. You’ll often see major differences across Spanish regions based on available ingredients, favoring those they have in abundance.
You can follow this tradition by making seasonal and geographical variations of your own. Or, try any of these starting points:
- Substitute seafood for chicken thighs.
- Include chopped tomatoes in your base for more acidic rice.
- Add diced onion to your garlic for even more flavor.
FAQs
Here are some questions people often ask about my keto seafood paella. If you don’t see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.
Seafood paella can include the seafood of your choice. Shrimp paella is a common dish, complemented with chorizo for a classic flavor.
Other seafood options include a variety of white fish, mussels, clams, lobsters, shrimp, prawns, squid, and more.
Shredded chicken thighs are another common protein source in seafood paella.
Some make the mistake of cooking cauliflower rice how they would cook traditional rice, in water or broth. This is going to make your cauliflower rice soggy, mushy, and waterlogged (not good!).
Instead, sauté your cauliflower rice in a little bit of butter or olive oil before adding it to your dish. This can be done for either fresh or frozen cauliflower, resulting in the perfect texture!
Cauliflower rice is the healthier option for ketogenic diets. Healthy is often relative because everyone has different health goals! For a keto diet, examine your foods based on nutrition, calories, and carb count.
In terms of rice, cauliflower rice contains higher levels of nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins, and fiber. It’s also significantly lower in both calories and carbohydrates.
There are a few secret tips that you should follow to make the most delicious paella possible!
Use the right pan – a traditional paella pan is large and made from carbon steel, providing an even heat distribution and cooking to your paella. It is the best choice!
Focus on simple and effective flavor combinations – paella doesn’t need to include a large number of spices or ingredients if you know how to pair them together. Use combinations that enhance the flavor of your simple, whole ingredients. For example, chorizo and smoked paprika are a no-brainer!
Develop the crust – the most delicious part of any paella is the crust that forms at the bottom of the pan. Let your ingredients simmer undisturbed to achieve this tasty element.
If you like this keto seafood paella, try these!
I have so many other keto-friendly seafood recipes for you to try. Start with some of these:
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Keto Seafood Paella
Inspired by traditional Spanish paella, this keto seafood paella recipe is filled with flavorful spices, chorizo, and the seafood of your choice. Craft this versatile dish with seasonal ingredients for a quick and easy meal, or serve it at a Spanish-inspired dinner party!
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Instructions
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat.
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Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
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Add the chorizo to the pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes until it starts to release its oils and becomes slightly crispy.
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Add the yellow and red pepper to the pan. Sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
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Stir in the cauliflower rice, smoked paprika, and turmeric. Cook for 1 minute to coat the vegetables and spices.
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Add the grated tomato, half of the chopped parsley and chickpeas to the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 2 minutes.
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Pour in the broth and stir well to combine all the ingredients. Bring to a simmer.
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Add the seafood (shrimp, scallops, and any other seafood you are using) to the pan, spreading it evenly over the mixture.
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Cover the pan and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the seafood is cooked through and the flavors have melded together.
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Remove from heat and let it rest for a few minutes.
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Garnish with the remaining parsley.
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Serve hot with lemon and additional parsley if desired.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Calories: 308 | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 1390mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2014IU | Vitamin C: 92mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg
Additional Info
Net Carbs:
8
g
|
% Carbs:
10.6
%
|
% Protein:
35.8
%
|
% Fat:
53.6
%
|
SmartPoints:
8
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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