Spanish Shrimp Paella {Healthy Recipe}

I recently read this article from Greatist dealing with myths about carbs.  I honestly cannot stand it when people say they are on a low-carb diet.  Our bodies need carbs in order to function!  It is the only nutrient we can convert to glucose, which our bodies need for energy! One of the major myths this article touched on was that carbs make you gain weight.  This was the response: “So people gain weight—not because the carbs are bad—but because they’re having too much.”  DUH!  As with anything, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.  So please, let’s stop making carbs our enemy!

And for this week’s recipe: Spanish Shrimp Paella.  How much does this dish make you want to jump on a plane, jet over to Spain and spend a week behind large sunglasses cruising the Mediterranean, drinking wine and noshing on wonderfully flavored food?

Yeah, me too.

Well, this reveries is not in the cards for me but this recipe certainly makes up for that and allows me a few minutes of daydreaming!  This Spanish Shrimp Paella focuses on healthy and low-cal shrimp with lots of flavor!

Ingredients

1 cup of water
A few saffron threads
2 cups of chicken stock
20 Jumbo Shrimp
1 tablespoon of EVOO
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup red pepper, chopped
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp paprika
3 gloves of garlic, crushed
3 cups of rice
lime to taste

Directions

1. Combine water, saffron and broth in a large saucepan. Bring to simmer (not boil) and keep warm over low heat.
2. Heat a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of EVOO. Add shrimp and cook until done. Remove from pan and reduce heat to medium low.
3. Add onion and pepper and saute for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, tomatoes and paprika and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add rice and cook for one minute stirring. Add simmering broth and bring to a low boil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Add shrimp to mixture and warm through.
6. Sprinkle with lime juice, serve and enjoy!