Southern Jambalaya with chicken and sausages! The ultimate recipe for a one-pot hearty meal, which is intense in flavours and aromas.
The first time I visited the US I was so excited! Coming from Europe, it felt like another planet. Being a food lover I wanted to try every regional delicacies this wonderful country had to offer.
So I asked my American friend “Which are the traditional American dishes?”. The answer came as a shock to me:
“Eh…there is no American food the way you the Europeans have. It’s mostly steaks, burgers, cornbread etc”. So, am I going to starve here?
She was right up to a point. It’s very easy to distinguish between Italian, French or German food. You visit the country and you know what to expect in order to please your palate. The US is a different story.
I had to live in the US for some time to discover the richness of American food. Consisting of people with different origins, most of the “American” dishes are a blend of different influences from around the world.
The southern states are most famous for their hearty meals, mostly influenced by the Mexicans (I love Tex-Mex food!) and the French. Jambalaya is a great example of fine American cuisine. You have your chicken, your sausages and rice. All full of flavours and aromas!
Need anyything else? I guess not…
- 600 gr (21 oz) skinless chicken thighs.
- 300 gr (10 oz) Andouille or any other smoked sausage.
- 200 gr (7 oz) raw shrimps cleaned.
- 1 green bell pepper chopped.
- 1 red bell pepper chopped.
- 1 onion chopped.
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped.
- 1 celery stick chopped.
- 3-4 big ripe and sweet tomatoes.
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste.
- 2 cups chicken broth.
- 1 cup of long-grain rice.
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika.
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme.
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano.
- 1 tablespoon Cajun spices mix.
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper.
- 4-5 spring onions chopped.
- 4-5 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil.
- 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Cut the chicken thighs into small pieces and slice the sausages.
- Heat up the olive oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add the chicken and season with all the herbs and spices. When it starts getting brown, add the sausages and give it a good stir.
- Add the onions, spring onions, peppers, celery and garlic and cook until they start getting soft. Remember to stir from time to time.
- Use the blender to create a smooth paste with the tomatoes. Add it to the pot. Dissolve the concentrated tomato paste in hot water and pour it to the pot. Give it a good stir and let it cook for ~ 10 minutes.
- Add the rice and 1 cup of hot chicken broth. Add the shrimps, stir well and let the rice cook together with the rest of the ingredients. Taste the rice from time to time. If it's still not cooked and the pot looks dry, add a bit of hot chicken broth. Repeat if needed.
- Serve the Jambalaya warm and...bon appetit!
This Jambalaya looks terrific.
Nice post.
The Old Fat Guy