Best Jambalaya Recipe

Slofoodgroup Team February 05, 2023

What Ingredients Are Included In Creole Jambalaya

We believe that Creole Jambalaya is one of the best Southern comfort foods. It is a hot, spicy, and incredibly flavorful rice dish that is cooked to perfection in a mixture containing sofrito, tomatoes, and broth. Jambalaya recipes can vary significantly but usually contain a wide assortment of protein combinations—most typically sausage, chicken, and shellfish.

For ours, we went with 2 out of 3 of those classics: andouille sausage and whole shrimp. However, we strayed slightly from the norm by utilizing a smoked turkey breast from our local meat market, which not only saved us a little time but added a subtle smokey flavor to our dish.

We also wanted to make it a little more healthy, so while jambalaya is traditionally made using long-grain white rice, we swapped it for long-grain brown rice. With all the other flavors contributing to the essence of this dish, you won’t even be able to tell the difference.

We further enhanced this dish with our own secret ingredient—pasilla chile powder. Just a little of this powder goes a long way, incorporating massive chile flavor without going overboard on the heat level.

Simple and Healthy Jambalaya Recipe

Ingredients:

2 stalks of celery, cut in ½-inch pieces
½ yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, cut in ½-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic
6 tablespoons butter, divided
3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 dried bay leaves
1 ½ cups brown rice
1 can chopped tomatoes, with juice
2 ½ cups broth
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped finely
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped finely
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon smoked sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon pasilla chile powder
1 ½ cups smoked turkey, sliced
8 ounces shrimp, whole
8 ounces of andouille sausage, sliced into ¾-inch pieces

Procedure

Heat the butter in a large pot
Add the bell peppers, onion, celery, and garlic. Cook until soft
Move the peppers to the outside of the pan and add 2 tablespoons of butter, add the shrimp and sausage.
Cook until the shrimp are just turning pink and the sausage is cooked through, then remove
Pour in the tomatoes, rice, and broth. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to simmer.
Stir in the herbs and spices except for the smoked sea salt.
Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in the shrimp, sausage, and turkey.
Simmer for another 5-10 minutes to get the protein hot.
Finish with smoked sea salt.
Serve as a solo dish or with a hefty portion of southern greens.