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Saffron Paella BLT

Vegan BLT Paella Skewers

A new twist on a classic sandwich. Crispy saffron infused arborio rice cakes with shiitake mushroom bacon, tomato, and basil garlic coleslaw. A perfect appetizer for your next event.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Shiitake Bacon
  • 12 caps shiitake mushrooms (approximately 2 cups of trimmed shiitake mushroom caps)
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp liquid smoke
  • 1/4 cup water
Saffron Arborio Rice Cakes
  • 1 cup aroborio or bomba rice
  • 8 cups water
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (use gluten free if needed)
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2-3 tsp Calabrian chilies in oil (optional, can substitute red pepper flakes)
  • salt to taste
  • 12 bamboo skewers
  • 1 cup prepared basil garlic coleslaw*
  • 12 slices tomato

Method
 

Shiitake Bacon
  1. Remove stems and wipe dirt from mushrooms. Place in a shallow bowl.
  2. Add soy sauce, water, and liquid smoke to the bowl. Marinate mushrooms for 15 minutes.
  3. Place mushroom caps in air fryer to crisp into bacon for approximately 15-20 minutes. I like to check mine every 5 minutes. (You can also roast in the oven at 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes.)
Saffron Rice Cakes
  1. Add rice, water, saffron and a large pinch of salt to a pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat a bit and simmer for 18 minutes.
  2. Drain rice and mix with panko, nutritional yeast, Calabrian chilies if using, and another pinch of salt.
  3. Coat a mini muffin pan with olive oil spray. Fill each space to the top with the rice mixture.
  4. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes until crispy. (If roasting mushrooms in the oven, the rice cakes can cook at higher temperature but check them more frequently.)
Assembly
  1. Layer a rice cake, small scoop of basil garlic coleslaw, mushroom bacon, tomato slice, and another rice cake. Skewer. Place on a tray with fresh basil for garnish.

Notes

*See recipe for basil garlic coleslaw