Every single person in the world loves to eat and create
wonderful recipes that will fill their stomach. Each culture has a certain taste
for different cuisines and once in awhile we get a glimpse of that culture. Food
fills a person's body and soul with so much joy that is why a lot of people love
eating out or at home. Learning new cuisines allow people to explore new
territories when it comes to food and it also creates a whole new perspective
when it comes to its history. Jambalaya is a favorite cuisine that is usually
cooked with rice, ham, shrimp, chicken, oysters and some herbs. This is a great
dish that will surely be enjoyed by your family and friends. There are many unique ways to prepare jambalaya. Let's take a look
at how Jambalaya came into our lives.
History of Jambalaya
Jambalaya was first created in Southern Louisiana during
the times when food was scarce. It was the early Cajuns
in the Bayou that discovered this sumptuous meal that is
gracing every dinner table until this time. The word
Jambalaya is said to be a mixture of the words Jambon
which means ham in French and Aya that means rice in
African. As we can see Jambalaya resembles a melting pot
of cultures all over the world. Its diversity gives the
palate an amazing experience when it comes to taste.
How Is It Made?
Jambalaya is fairly easy to do and you just need a bit
of imagination when you make it. The base of a Jambalaya
dish is rice and you can opt to make it with some basic
meat like: ham, sausages, chicken, oysters and so much
more. This can be made separately or all together and
the addition of spices is very important to get the best
tasting Jambalaya. If you want to start making this
dish, here are a couple of easy-to-make recipe for
Jambalaya.
No Fuss Jambalaya Recipe
You will need:
3 green peppers (chopped)
4 cloves of garlic (diced)
An onion (diced)
120 ml of olive oil
A cup of chopped chorizo
450 g of chicken pieces
Chili pepper
500 g of long grain rice
30 ml Cajun spices
450 g Chicken stock
A teaspoon of chili powder
2 tablespoon of turmeric
A pack of mixed vegetables like: carrots, green beans,
sprouts, etc.
450 g of prawns
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedure:
1. Heat your pan and add your olive oil. After a few
minutes, add the garlic, onion, pepper, chicken and
chorizo. Cook the ingredients for about 8 minutes.
2. You can then add your chili pepper that has been
chopped and chili powder. The spicy taste will depend on
you so try to start with a little and keep on adding
until you get the right taste.
3. Stir in the rice, turmeric and Cajun spices. Make
sure that you mix them well so that the rice can have
all the needed taste when it starts to cook.
4. Add your chicken stock and simmer. After it starts
simmering, add your mixed vegetable and bring to a boil.
Bring down the temperature to a simmer and wait for the
rice to be cooked.
5. When the rice starts to swell, this means that it is
almost cooked. You can then add your prawns. Let it
simmer for about 25 minutes in low heat. Check the rice
once in awhile to make sure that it is cooked. When you
taste the rice it should be tender rather than firm. You
may have to cook the rice a little longer if it is firm
rather than tender. You may also have to take longer
than 25 minutes if you opt to use brown rice instead of
white rice.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Recipe for Jambalaya Shrimp & Sausage Fusion
You will need:
8oz of smoked sausages (sliced thinly)
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of paprika
450g of shrimps
A cup of white or brown rice
3 cups of chicken broth
A large green pepper (diced)
A tablespoon of cumin
2 ribs of celery (sliced thinly)
4 green onions (sliced)
Half a teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup of fresh tomatoes (diced)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Procedure:
1. In a big pot, set the temperature at medium heat and
melt the butter. Watch it carefully so that it won't
burn and then add the sausages and stir for 5 minutes.
Add your spices: cumin, paprika, black pepper, cayenne
and salt. Saute for 5 minutes.
2. Add your tomatoes and stir for about 3 minutes to
help the liquid evaporate from the tomatoes.
3. Add your celery, green pepper and your onion. Leave a
few onions behind to be used as a garnish for the dish.
Cook with continuous stirring for about 5 minutes.
4. Incorporate your rice in the pot and mix well with
the rest of the ingredients. Add your chicken broth and
turn up the heat. As soon as it starts to boil, bring
the temperature back to low and cover the pot. Cook the
rice for about 25 minutes and if you are using brown
rice you may have to cook it for 45 minutes or until the
rice becomes tender.
5. When the rice is tender, you can start putting your
shrimps. Make sure that the shrimps are cleaned
thoroughly before cooking. Stir the shrimp in with the
rice and the rest of the ingredients. Cover the pot for
about 5 minutes and then turn off the heat. Refrain from
overcooking the shrimps or it will be rubbery or tough.
It may also lose its taste if overcooked.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can then start
serving your Jambalaya Shrimp & Sausage Fusion. Use the
rest of the sliced onions to top the dish.
These are just some recipes that you can do to create a
delicious Jambalaya. You can't go wrong with this dish,
you just have to make sure that you find the right
fusion of meats and spices. You should not be afraid to
experiment so that you can achieve the best tasting
Jambalaya. Your friends and family will surely
compliment you on your next dinner party as soon you
serve them this hearty dish. Try your hand with this
great tasting meal that will surely bring great joy to
your family's dinner table.
