Authentic New Orleans Creole Jambalaya
A flavorful and vibrant one-pot dish filled with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and vegetables, seasoned with a homemade Cajun spice blend.
Equipment
- Large heavy pan with lid
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 3 small bell peppers, chopped
- 1 small jalapeno, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 14 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- 1 pound raw shrimp, deveined and tails removed
- 1.25 cups okra
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a large heavy pan with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped celery, bell peppers, onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Sauté for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Helpful tip: Stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan, then fold in the chicken and sliced smoked sausage. Continue to sauté until the chicken is nearly cooked through and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, rice, and the homemade Cajun spice blend. Stir everything together with a wooden spoon. Add two bay leaves, cover the pan with a lid, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the jambalaya simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring every 4-5 minutes to prevent the rice from sticking. Keep an eye on the liquid level; add more broth if necessary.
- After 25 minutes, fold in the shrimp and okra. Cover the pan again and cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and taste the jambalaya. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or cayenne if desired.
- Garnish with green onions and fresh parsley leaves before serving. Enjoy your flavorful jambalaya!
Notes
For a vegetarian version, you can replace the chicken and sausage with your favorite vegetables and plant-based protein. Feel free to adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of cayenne pepper in the Cajun spice blend. No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.