Quinoa Paella

I highly recommend this quinoa paella. You can put whatever you want in it, and it is creamy and flavorful, and colorful. The only ingredient in it that is expensive is the saffron. I used frozen mixed seafood and shrimp, but you could use any kind of sausage or other frozen seafood to your liking.

original recipe via domesticfits.com 

Grocery list items: 

frozen shrimp 

frozen seafood mix

red bell pepper 

yellow bell pepper 

tomatoes 

tomato paste 

saffron 

frozen peas 

flat leaf parsley

Quinoa is very easy to make, which means that this paella becomes much more attainable than a finicky rice dish. Don't be discouraged by the long list of ingredients! You'll be making everything in one nice, big pan. The slowest part is chopping your vegetables and waiting for the seafood to defrost. Also, even though I made plenty of paella, there were no leftovers. In my house, that is high praise indeed!

Quinoa Paella
1 tbs olive oil
2 small onions, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
handful cherry tomatoes (or one large tomato), chopped
1 tbs tomato paste
10 threads saffron
salt + pepper
2 cups water
1 tbs vegetable bouillon (dissolved in the water)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 cup quinoa
12 shrimp, defrosted
1 lb frozen seafood mix, thawed
1 tsp paprika
1 handful parsley, chopped

Add the olive oil to the pan and sauté the onions and bell peppers until soft.

Then add in garlic, tomatoes, and tomato paste and sauté for about a minute more. Add in the saffron, salt, pepper, paprika, veggie broth, and frozen peas. Stir well and bring to a simmer. 

Add the quinoa, stir, and cover pan with a lid, leaving some space for steam to vent. Cook about 20 min, or until quinoa has absorbed most of the liquid.

Now add the shrimp and seafood, and re-cover the pan for about ten minutes, or until the seafood is fully cooked and no longer looks translucent. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. 

There, now wasn't that easy? This is such a bright and tasty meal, and you can make it again and again with your economical frozen ingredients! Do you have any ideas for other ingredients to put in your paella?

Quinoa Paella

1 tbs olive oil
2 small onions, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
handful cherry tomatoes (or one large tomato), chopped
1 tbs tomato paste
10 threads saffron
salt + pepper
2 cups water
1 tbs vegetable bouillon (dissolved in the water)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 cup quinoa
12 shrimp, defrosted
1 lb frozen seafood mix, thawed
1 tsp paprika
1 handful parsley, chopped

Directions: 
1. Heat olive oil in a large pan and sauté the onions and bell peppers until soft.
2. Add in garlic, tomatoes, and tomato paste and sauté for about a minute more
3. Add in the saffron, salt, pepper, paprika, veggie broth, and frozen peas
4. Stir well and bring to a simmer
5. Add the quinoa, stir, and cover pan with a lid, leaving some space for steam to vent
6. Cook about 20 min, or until quinoa has absorbed most of the liquid
7. Add the shrimp and seafood, and re-cover the pan for about ten minutes, or until the seafood is fully cooked and no longer looks translucent
8. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.