Mardi Gras is coming to a close, people. Ash Wednesday is day after tomorrow and this is the time when suddenly I begin to crave pork and beef and chicken and all manner of dishes that will be given up by me once I get that black cross of ashes traced onto my forehead. Every year I say “Oh, I don’t care about meat. I don’t even like it! I never eat it anyway.” That’s right about the time when visions of $12.00 bacon cheeseburgers, spicy, homemade jambalaya and hot, crispy chicken wings begin to pop up in my head. I pulled out my giant pot, the one big enough to bathe a baby, and set about to make the best pot of jambalaya I’ve ever had. I’ve been making this for the longest time and I think I’ve worked out the kinks. That said, no shortcuts may be taken ie: frozen bags of the Trinity which always leave you waiting for the promised burst of flavor. This iconic dish begs, no, DESERVES, to be prepared properly…leisurely, and it will reward you by delivering that slow and sultry combination of Louisiana flavors that cause you to roll your eyes back in your head. Well-made jambalaya, good jambalaya, is like finger-poppin’ music in your mouth. Layer upon layer of ingredients make themselves known, some subtly others not so discreetly. It is a one-pot marvel of unpretentious components that ultimately yield a sophisticated dinner of comfort food while at the same time an over-the-top indulgence. And it is the best possible way to celebrate Fat Tuesday. So put on some boom-boom radio or zydeco, haul out your big pot and get to it. Laissez le bon temps rouler!
Jambalaya is a great dish for a crowd. It’s best prepared in a large, heavy bottomed pot with a lid that fits well. Having all your ingredients cut, chopped and ready to go will also ensure a fantastic meal. If you’re not able to locate converted Louisiana white rice just substitute it for a good quality, converted, white, long grain rice. What cannot be substituted is the Andouille sausage. I get mine from the butcher’s and if they’re out I use Aidell’s brand which is stocked at Publix. I find using sausage other than Andouille in this dish ends up tasting like hot dogs. Not a flavor I want after I’ve been standing in the kitchen for a few hours. So put off making jambalaya until you can find the real thing. I use a mammoth, wooden spoon to stir this dish. You’ll want to use the largest spoon you can get your hands on as the ingredients become heavy and bulky as you get further into the cooking.
Shrimp, Sausage and Chicken Jambalaya
- 5 cups converted long grain rice
- 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 3 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 pound ground pork sausage, preferably spicy
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 pound Andouille sausage or 1 12-ounce package from the grocery store, thinly sliced
- 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of all fat and cut into 1″ cubes
- 3 large, sweet onions, diced
- 2 bell peppers, seeded and diced
- 6 stalks of celery, leaves included, diced
- 1 large head of garlic, minced
- 3-4 fresh bay leaves
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 pounds medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined, preferably not farmed
- salt and pepper
- In a medium-sized bowl add paprika, celery salt, thyme, cayenne pepper and rice. Stir well to break up any lumps in the spices. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot up to medium heat and add ground sausage, breaking up and stirring while it browns.
- When sausage is browned add oil and Andouille sausage. Stir occasionally but allow Andouille to brown and get color.
- Add chicken pieces and cook until golden. Stir occasionally.
- Add the onions to the pot and stir continuously. Cook until clear.
- Add the bell pepper, celery and garlic and cook for another 7-10 minutes stirring all the while.
- Add the rice mixture to the pot and stir so the grains of rice are evenly coated with the contents of the pot.
- Raise heat to high, add bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock and stir well. Taste broth for seasoning and add salt and black pepper as needed.
- When pot comes to the boil, drop the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer until rice is cooked according to package instructions.
- When rice is cooked, gently mix in the shrimp, this is where you truly need a big spoon, again cover the pot and turn off the heat.
- Allow the shrimp to cook in residual heat another 15 minutes then serve.
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The Irreverent Kitchen 
Hi Alicia! Myriam told me about your blog and I came to check it out. This jambalaya looks fabulous!! 😮 Love your blog! My blog is primarily a baking blog, but then I can come over to yours for dinner! 😀
I love it! Thank you! I’ll be checking your blog out today. I’m getting into baking more and more!
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