Spanish Chickpea & Saffron Paella with Crispy Garlic Tempeh
Prep 15 min · Cook 30 min · Serves 1 · medium

A vibrant vegan twist on classic Spanish paella featuring saffron-infused arborio rice, tender chickpeas, and golden pan-fried tempeh strips, finished with smoky paprika and fresh herbs for an elegant, restaurant-quality dinner.
Ingredients
- 100 grams tempeh, cut into thin strips
- 0.75 cups arborio rice, uncooked
- 0.75 cup chickpeas, canned, drained and rinsed
- 2.25 cups vegetable broth, warm
- 0.25 teaspoon saffron threads
- 0.5 cup artichoke hearts, canned or frozen, halved
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 whole garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Steep saffron threads in 2.25 cups warm vegetable broth for 15 minutes to infuse flavor and color.
- 2
Cut tempeh into thin 1/4-inch strips and pan-fry in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat until golden and crispy on both sides (about 5-6 minutes total). Remove and set aside.


