Cajun Jambalaya

One of the easiest Cajun dishes to make?  Jambalaya.
One of the most delicious Cajun dishes to make?  Jambalaya.

Jambalaya

What are we waiting for?  Let's do this!

You Will Need:

• 1 Tbsp Cajun Spice (Slap Ya Mama, or Tony Chacheres, etc)
• 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 Tsp Oregano
• 1/2 Tsp Basil
• 1 1/2 Cups Long Grain Rice
• 3 Cups Chicken Stock
• 2 Cups Crushed Tomatoes
  
• 2lbs Meat (Your choice, Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, or a mix)
• 6 Celery Ribs
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1 Green Bell Pepper
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion
• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil

Common to many Cajun dishes is "The Trinity."  It's a mix of diced onion, celery, and bell pepper.  Jambalaya is nothing if you don't start with the Trinity!  Dice this all up and dump it into a large pot with the olive oil and saute it over medium high heat until the onions start to clarify and the veggies get soft.

When the Trinity is ready, dump in the meat!  I had 2lbs of smoked chicken left over from the BBQ pit so that's what I used.  Normally, I use a pound of cooked chicken thigh meat and a pound of good quality ham or andouille sausage.  The word "Jambalaya" is a Cajun word that is derived from the French "Jambon" which means "ham" in English so... It follows that you should find a way to add some cut ham or at least some bacon fat to the pot!  I went the healthier route this time though, so don't judge!

Stir the meat with the Trinity until everything is heated through, then add the tomatoes and spices.  Stir and stir until it's all mixed well.

Now, add the rice and give it another good stir.  Dump in the chicken stock and bump the heat to HIGH until you see a steady boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and put a lid on it.  Set a timer for 30 minutes and walk away... Lots of things are happening in the pot, the rice is soaking up all sorts of flavor, tomatoes are breaking down, aromas are starting to swirl, good times!

When the timer goes off, just give the dish a final stir.  How easy was that?  You don't have to "Serve over rice" because the rice is already there, ready to rock!  Just dish some into a bowl, get yourself a cold beer or a nice glass of wine and put your feet up!