Description
Spicy Louisiana jambalaya brings soulful Creole flavors dancing across your plate with bold, hearty ingredients. Sausage, shrimp, and rice meld together, creating a one-pot wonder that invites you to savor New Orleans’ culinary spirit.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Base and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a spacious cooking vessel, warm the oil over moderate temperature, introducing diced onions, vibrant bell peppers, crisp celery, and aromatic garlic. Allow vegetables to soften and release their essence for approximately 5 minutes.
- Incorporate cubed chicken and sliced sausage, sautéing until chicken develops a golden exterior and sausage edges become delicately crisp, roughly 5-7 minutes.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, uncooked rice, savory chicken broth, and sprinkle a blend of thyme, cayenne, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly integrate all components.
- Elevate heat to trigger boiling, then immediately reduce to low, covering the pot to create a gentle simmer. Allow mixture to cook undisturbed for 20-25 minutes until rice reaches tender perfection and liquid completely absorbs.
- Gently nestle raw shrimp into the jambalaya, stirring carefully to distribute evenly. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes until shrimp transform from translucent to opaque white.
- Extract the bay leaf, scatter freshly chopped green onions across the surface, and serve this vibrant, flavor-packed Louisiana classic immediately.
Notes
- Spice Customization: Adjust cayenne pepper to control heat level, making it mild or extra spicy based on personal preference.
- Protein Flexibility: Easily swap proteins like using only chicken, all seafood, or vegetarian alternatives such as tofu or additional vegetables.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This jambalaya tastes even better the next day, so consider making a larger batch for convenient leftovers that develop deeper flavors overnight.
- Gluten-Free Option: Ensure all ingredients like sausage and broth are certified gluten-free for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-42 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun/Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg