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Easy Keto Paella With Cauliflower Rice

This easy keto paella recipe will have you dreaming of Spanish castles and Flamenco dancers. A quick and fun low carb dinner with cauliflower rice, shrimp, chorizo sausage, and tons of spice. If you have fresh calamari and mussels, they go well in it too.

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Plate of keto paella topped with garlic aioli

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Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the recipe card with ingredient amounts and a printable recipe to make it NOW or save for later!

I know this sounds incredibly stereotypical, but when I think of paella, I immediately think of Spanish guitars, plazas, and Flamenco. Personally, I’ve never been to Spain. Now, I’ve seen the border from France, but never crossed over.

Traveling and learning about different cultures and people is one of my favorite things to do. As a former high school French teacher, I’m always ready for that teaching moment and believe food plays a huge part in culture.

In fact, last March, I was all ready to head to Barcelona to do some research. Yes, research. Foods, history, art, and fun were to be had until all the craziness hit.

Unfortunately, the trip was cancelled, or at least postponed for another year or so. That means I’m reading books about Spain and experimenting with Spanish recipes. Although I will not claim this paella keto version to be completely authentic, it’s easy and delicious.

So just excuse me while I sit by myself and practice my nonexistent Catalan language skills and pretend to order in a restaurant in Barcelona.

Bon profit!

🍽 Equipment – what you need to make keto paella

When I get ready to make dinner, the first thing I do is to get out all the kitchen gadgets and equipment I’ll need. I like it when things are close at hand and ready to go.

Overhead view of keto paella

🥘 Ingredients in low carb paella

  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 7 oz chorizo
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 cups riced cauliflower
  • 2 tsp paprika (smoked or regular)
  • 1 tsp onion granules (or powder)
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 cup chicken bone broth
  • 6 tbsp mayonnaise (no added sugar)
  • 16 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 oz. chopped asparagus
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Chopped Italian parsley (to garnish)
  • 8 oz calamari rings (optional)
Overhead view keto paella ingredients

When selecting any ingredients, buy as fresh as you can, and organic if possible. For meat and seafood, get good quality and see if you can find out the source.

As I live in Northern Colorado, far away from the sea, it is harder to get good seafood. That’s why I stuck with shrimp for this recipe. However, if you have fresh calamari or mussels, by all means, use them in this recipe too!

As far as chorizo goes, if you can’t find a good quality version of premade, you can always make your own. Give this Homemade Mexican-Style Chorizo recipe a try. With it, you can make all sorts of keto chorizo recipes. Alternatively, if you can find the good dried Spanish chorizo, that’s a nice option for keto paella.

Pan of keto paella

🔪 Instructions

First of all, pull out all the needed equipment and ingredients. It should be close at hand where you can get to it easily. Ideally, this recipe takes under thirty minutes (do a little dance!). If you have everything ready, it speeds up preparation.

💭 Top tip – produce prep

To begin, start by getting all the produce ready. First, wash, core, and slice the red bell pepper into small strips. Second, peel and mince the garlic. Then remove the woody ends of the asparagus and chop it in about one-inch pieces.

Chipped asparagus in a bowl

If you’re familiar with traditional paella, you may be asking, asparagus? I thought peas were in paella?

This is something I chose to change for the keto recipe. Personally, I don’t eat peas because of their higher sugar and carb count. Asparagus is traditionally used in Spanish cooking quite often and is a much more keto-friendly vegetable.

It’s also popular with my family which is a win for a green veggie.

⏲ Cook time

Next, add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to a large pan over medium-high heat. Then add in and cook the bell pepper, asparagus, and chorizo. Stir and break up the chorizo until it browns, about 3-4 minutes.

Overhead view of peppers and chorizo

After that, stir half the minced garlic, one teaspoon of paprika, the turmeric, and the riced cauliflower into the pan.

Now, pour in the chicken bone broth, stirring well, and bring it all to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally until the cauliflower rice is soft and the liquid evaporates, which should take about 3-5 minutes.

🧄 How to make garlic aioli

Next, it’s time to make the garlic aioli. In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise together with the remaining minced garlic. Then stir in one teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture gets to be a drizzle stage.

Keto garlic aioli

Season the sauce with salt and pepper and set it aside for when the dish is ready to serve.

Garlic aioli in a bowl

🍤 How to cook the keto shrimp

Now to cook the shrimp. First of all, rinse off and then dry the shrimp with paper towels. Next, season it all over with one teaspoon of good smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Then take a second large pan and warm one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil on high heat. Add the shrimp (and the fresh calamari rings if using) and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, opaque, and cooked throug. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

Cooked and spiced shrimp

After that, turn off the heat on the cauliflower rice mixture and stir it up well. Then top it with the shrimp (and calamari rings). Again season with salt and pepper to taste, and then it’s ready to serve.

Overhead view of keto paella

It can be served up family-style, sprinkled with chopped Italian parsley and a drizzle of the garlic aioli. Or plate it individually with the aioli on the side.

Closeup of the keto paella with a drizzle of garlic aioli

Yum! Can I get some here?

🥣 How to store keto paella

Any leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for four to five days.

If you’re planning for one, it’s easy to reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop. It can also be frozen in freezer storage containers in individual portions for about a month.

Shrimp bite on a fork

What are your favorite low carb shrimp recipes?

Personally, I’m a big fan of shrimp, although I haven’t always been. It’s something my husband really enjoys so I’ve gotten in the habit of buying and eating shrimp a lot more than I ever did as a kid.

Tell me, what are your favorite shrimp recipes?

Next, I lately I’ve also been loving this shrimp ceviche with avocado recipe, and I think we’ll be experimenting to make a keto Kung Pao shrimp recipe, one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy the paella low carb style! Take care.

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Keto paella overhead view on a white plate

Tag me in your recipe pics on Instagram @explorermomma.

If you LOVE this recipe please consider giving it a five-star rating in the review area below!

🍲 More keto shrimp recipes

  1. Keto Jambalaya
  2. Keto Gumbo
  3. Low Carb Thai Coconut Soup
  4. Keto Coconut Shrimp

📖 Printable recipe card

Overhead view of keto paella on a plate

Easy Keto Paella

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

A delicious quick and easy keto paella recipe with cauliflower rice, shrimp, and chorizo sausage. A Spanish classic for a low carb weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 7 oz chorizo
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 cups riced cauliflower
  • 2 tsp paprika (smoked or regular)
  • 1 tsp onion granules (or powder)
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 cup chicken bone broth
  • 6 tbsp mayonnaise (no added sugar)
  • 16 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 8 oz. chopped asparagus
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Chopped Italian parsley (to garnish)
  • 8 oz calamari rings (optional)

Instructions

    1. Wash, core, and slice the red bell pepper into small strips. Peel and mince the garlic. Then remove the woody ends of the asparagus and chop it into one-inch pieces.
    2. Add 1 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil to a large pan over medium-high heat. Add in and cook the bell pepper, asparagus, and chorizo. Stir and break up the chorizo until it browns, 3-4 minutes.
    3. Stir half the minced garlic, 1 tsp of paprika, the turmeric, and the riced cauliflower into the pan. Pour in the chicken bone broth, stirring well, and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally until the cauliflower rice is soft and the liquid evaporates, 3-5 minutes.
    4. Make the garlic aioli. In a small bowl stir the mayonnaise with the remaining minced garlic. Stir in one teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture gets to a drizzle stage. Season with salt and pepper.
    5. Dry shrimp with paper towels and season all over with 1 tsp of paprika, salt, and pepper.
    6. Take a second large pan and warm one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil on high heat. Add the shrimp (and calamari rings if using) and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink opaque and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.
    7. Turn off the heat on the cauliflower rice mixture and stir well. Top with the shrimp (and calamari rings). Season with salt and pepper and serve with sprinkled chopped Italian parsley and a drizzle of the garlic aioli.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 424Total Fat: 30gCarbohydrates: 8gNet Carbohydrates: 5gFiber: 3gProtein: 26g

*Nutrition Facts per MyFitnessPal.com. For the most accurate facts, calculate your own with the exact ingredients you use in the recipe.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @explorermomma on Instagram and hashtag it #explorermomma. Thanks a bunch!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please be aware I am not a medical specialist or nutritional professional. On this blog, I share recipes and what works for me. Please do not take anything on this blog as medical advice and always consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

I use MyFitnessPal.com to calculate nutrition facts as a courtesy to my readers, and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count because does not affect my own blood glucose levels.  

This is as accurate as possible, but it’s best to independently calculate nutritional information on your own with the specific ingredients you use. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Felidae

Monday 5th of April 2021

This is a great recipe. A question though, are the calamari rings which you say is optional, included in the nutritional calculations or not? Thanks very much.

Lauren

Monday 5th of April 2021

The calamari rings are not in the nutrition facts, no. I can't find good fresh ones often around here, but I do like them when we can get them!

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This post may include Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only mention products or services I genuinely love and would recommend to a friend.
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