Jambalaya
Ingredients
&w=3840&q=75){kind=small}
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 12 ounces andouille sausage – sliced into 0.5-inch rounds (~4 medium andouille sausages)
- 1 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs – cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups onion – chopped (~2.5 medium onions)
- 1 cups green bell pepper – chopped (~1 medium green bell pepper)
- 1 cups celery – chopped
- 4 cloves garlic – minced
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice – rinsed
- 14 1/2 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 pounds raw shrimp – peeled and deveined (~50.5 medium shrimps)
- flat-leaf parsley – chopped (for garnish)
- hot sauce – for serving
Instructions
1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2. Add the andouille sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 6–8 minutes; transfer to a plate.
3. Add the chicken thighs to the pot and brown on both sides, 5–7 minutes total; leave the drippings in the pot.
4. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and celery; cook, scraping up browned bits, until softened, 6–8 minutes.
5. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
6. Return the sausage to the pot. Sprinkle in the paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and kosher salt; stir and cook 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
7. Stir in the long-grain white rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute to lightly toast.
8. Add the canned diced tomatoes with their juices, the chicken stock, and the bay leaves; bring to a boil, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer undisturbed until the rice is just tender and most liquid is absorbed, 20–25 minutes. Doneness cue: rice should be tender with small steam holes on the surface.
9. Scatter the raw shrimp over the rice, cover, and cook on low until the shrimp are pink and opaque, 4–6 minutes.
10. Remove from heat, discard the bay leaves, and let rest covered 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, garnish with the flat-leaf parsley, and serve with hot sauce.
Jambalaya is a hearty one-pot rice dish from Louisiana that layers smoky sausage, tender chicken, and sweet shrimp with the aromatic “holy trinity” of onion, bell pepper, and celery. The rice absorbs a richly spiced broth, yielding a satisfying, cohesive pot where every grain is flavored. In its most common New Orleans style, tomatoes lend a warm red hue and gentle acidity that balances the dish’s savor and spice.
The dish’s roots run through the diverse cultures of the Gulf Coast, drawing influence from Spanish paella, French techniques, West African rice traditions, and local Creole and Cajun cuisines. Over time, two broad styles emerged: Creole “red” jambalaya, which includes tomatoes, and Cajun “brown” jambalaya, which forgoes tomatoes and develops color from deeper browning. Today, jambalaya remains a beloved emblem of Louisiana cooking, celebrated at gatherings and festivals for its convivial, shareable nature.