5 Spanish Paellas

[Alberta Louise]

Depending on who you talk with paellas are regional in Latin America, South America and Spain. My objective is to make each individual one as colourful as possible like a fiesta dish. Here are 5 of mine.

Paella One: 3 Chilli Paella

Spanish rice, oily plant-based sardines, turmeric for the rice, oil of choice such as olive oil or safflower oil, vegetables of choice including carrots, beans, corn, peas, onions, beetroot, garlic and broadbeans etc, smoky paprika and a pinch of crushed chillies, one long red fresh chilli and one long green fresh chilli and a pinch of powdered chilli, chipotle powder, saffron (6 to 10 threads). 1/2 C of vegan friendly white wine is optional. Garnish with flat-leafed parsley and dry roasted white sesame seeds. A quarter of lemon on the side. Salt and pepper to taste.

Paella Two: Spanish rice, Plant-based flaky tuna, jumbo or small plant-based scrimp and plant-based chicken, turmeric for the rice, a variety of vegetables of choice including cabbage, onion, mushrooms and garlic, olive oil or safflower oil, smoky paprika, saffron, fresh red chillies, fresh green chillies to taste, chipotle powder, 1/2 C of vegan-friendly white wine is optional.  Garnish with flat-leaved parsley, a quarter of lemon, and dry roasted white sesame seeds. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Paella Three: Spanish rice, gourmet marble potatoes and same size cherry tomatoes paella. Turmeric for the rice, your choice of vegetables including garlic and stringless green beans etc, olive oil or safflower oil, smoky paprika, saffron, chipotle powder, fresh red long chillies and fresh long green chillies to taste, 1/2 C of vegan-friendly white wine is optional. Garnish with flat leaved parsley, a quarter of lemon, and dry roasted white sesame seeds. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Paella Four: Spanish rice, a selection of plant-based meats including plant-based jumbo or small scrimp, sausage or chippolatas. Turmeric for the rice, your choice of vegetables including pepita crusted pumpkin, olive oil or safflower oil, smoky paprika, saffron, fresh red chillies and fresh long green chillies to taste, chipotle powder, 1/2 C vegan-friendly white wine is optional. Garnish with flat leaved parsley, a quarter of lemon and roasted white sesame seeds. Salt and white pepper to taste.

Paella Five: Paella Char-grilled Red and Green Spanish chillies and vegetables. A small bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Spanish rice, turmeric, smoky paprika olive or safflower oil, crushed or powdered chillies, chipotle powder. Garnish with flat leaved parsley, a quarter of a lemon and dry roasted white sesame seeds. Instructions are the same as above. 

All these paellas can be changed around depending on individual taste. Once the rice is cooked press it down in a oiled paella dish and then use the toppings of your choice. It's okay if it is crisp and crunchy too. Rice can be Spanish, brown, white or risotto.

The aromatic herbs like coriander provide another taste. Lime can be exchanged for lemon. Red chilli oil can be dizzled over the finished product or a squiggle of vegan aioli or vegan mayo. Chipotle powder is smoky tasting.