Jambalaya is a quintessential one pot recipe with chicken, sausage, shrimp and rice! Coming to you from New Orleans!
An easy Jambalaya recipe is pure comfort food filled to the brim with flavour. The aromatic trinity of Cajun/Creole cooking: onion, celery, and bell peppers (capsicums), sautéed in andouille drippings with garlic, herbs and Cajun spices! Adding chicken and shrimp to this pot of tomato rice makes this one amazing meal in the comfort of your own homes!
Authentic Jambalaya Recipe
What is in a Jambalaya
Louisiana’s favourite one-pot dish varies from kitchen to kitchen, depending on the cook and the recipes passed down from older generations. Jambalaya traditionally contains any of the following meats:
- Chicken or pork
- Sausage — andouille, chorizo or smoked sausage.
- Seafoods — crawfish or shrimp are the favourite choices.
A soffritto-like trinity of onion, bell peppers and celery are also included, along with rice, chili’s, seasonings and broth. Everything usually cooks together in the one pot until the rice is done.
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There are two kinds of Jambalaya: Creole and Cajun. This recipe is the tomato-based Creole version.
What is a good substitute for andouille sausage?
- Mexican chorizo sausage (comes close to andouille in flavour, but not in texture)
- Kielbasa
- Any Polish smoked sausage
Cajun vs Creole Jambalaya
Creole cooks make a ‘red jambalaya’ including tomatoes in their recipe, whereas Cajun cooks do not. Another difference is the order in which the ingredients are prepared. Trying both while testing, I combined a little of both in this final recipe, choosing to sauté the sausage first to release drippings into the pot for the ‘soffritto’. We found doing this created the best flavour!
What is the difference between paella and jambalaya?
Even though Jambalaya is very similar to a Paella and includes pretty much the same list of main ingredients, the spices and seasonings change. Saffron is the main spice component in Paella, and Paella is milder than Jambalaya in the heat department.
What is the difference between a gumbo and jambalaya?
Gumbo is a stew or soup usually made with a roux to thicken it, whereas Jambalaya is a rice based dish. Okra is normally used in Gumbo to help thicken the stew and add a wonderful flavour to it. I use it in this Jambalaya recipe for the same reason! If you don’t like okra, you can use File Powder.
Best rice for Jambalaya
I use both long grain and short grain white rice. You could also use brown rice, but you will need to add more liquid and cook it longer than white.
Best wines with Jambalaya
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Vouvray
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
Sides that go with Jambalaya
Jambalaya is THE perfect one-pot meal full of ingredients, you really don’t need to serve it with anything other than cornbread, or fresh baguettes, plus a salad with a simple dressing to not over-power all of the spices in this Jambalaya.
Love one pot meals? Try these!
One Pan Tomato Basil Chicken & Rice
One Pot Ravioli in a Creamy Tomato Beef Sauce
Jambalaya Recipe (Creole)
An authentic Creole Jambalaya recipe! A delicious one-pot meal coming to you from New Orleans is pure comfort food filled to the brim with chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, rice, seasonings, spices and incredible flavours! Ready and on the table in 45 minutes!
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
Jambalaya
Servings: 6 – 8 people
Calories: 576 kcal
:
Ingredients
-
3
tablespoons
cooking oil,
divided -
2
tablespoons
Slap Ya Mama/Cajun seasoning,
(adjust to suit your tastes/heat preference) -
10
ounces
(300 g) andouille sausage,
sliced into rounds -
1
pound
(500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs,
cut into 1 inch pieces -
1
onion
diced -
1
small
green bell pepper (capsicum),
seeded and diced -
1
small
red bell pepper (capsicum),
seeded and diced -
2
stalks/ribs celery,
chopped -
4
cloves
garlic,
minced -
14
ounces
(400 g) can crushed tomatoes -
1
teaspoon
salt -
1/2
teaspoon
ground black pepper -
1
teaspoon
each dried thyme and dried oregano -
1/2
teaspoon
red pepper flakes
(or 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne powder) -
1/2
teaspoon
hot pepper sauce -
2
teaspoons
Worcestershire sauce -
1
cup
thinly sliced okra
(or 1 teaspoon file powder) -
1 1/2
cups
uncooked white rice
(short grain or long grain) -
3
cups
low sodium chicken broth -
1
pound
(500 g) raw shrimp/prawns
tails on or off, peeled and deveined -
Sliced green onions and chopped parsley,
to garnish
Instructions
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the sausage and chicken pieces with half of the Cajun seasoning.
Brown sausage in the hot oil; remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Add remaining oil to the pot and sauté chicken until lightly browned. Remove with slotted spoon; set aside.
Sauté the onion, bell pepper and celery until onion is soft and transparent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
Stir in the tomatoes; season with salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes (or Cayenne powder), hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and the remaining Cajun seasoning. Stir in the okra slices (or file powder), chicken and sausage. Cook for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
Add in the rice and chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low-medium. Cover and let simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked, while stirring occasionally.
Place the shrimp on top of the Jambalaya mixture, stir through gently and cover with lid. Allow to simmer while stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked through and pink (about 5-6 minutes, depending on the size/thickness of the shrimp being used).
Season with a little extra salt and pepper if needed and remove from heat. Adjust heat with extra hot sauce, Cayenne pepper or Cajun seasoning. Serve immediately with sliced green onions and parsley.
Recipe Notes
Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Jambalaya Recipe (Creole)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 576
Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g
34%
Saturated Fat 5g
25%
Cholesterol 183mg
61%
Sodium 496mg
21%
Potassium 756mg
22%
Total Carbohydrates 46g
15%
Dietary Fiber 4g
16%
Sugars 5g
Protein 43g
86%
Vitamin A
38.2%
Vitamin C
55.9%
Calcium
12.3%
Iron
18.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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