Jambalaya

Easy Jambalaya

Easy Jambalaya Recipe, a perfect recipe for Fat Tuesday, which begins Mardi Gras. The simplicity of this Jambalaya recipe is genius and it turns out great every time!

Laissez les bons temp rouler – (les-say) (le) (bon) (ton) (rue-lay) 

Let the good times roll!

As most people know, Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is also known as Mardi Gras Day. It is a day when people eat anything and everything they want because the next day is the beginning of a period of fasting for Christians. In addition to fasting, Christians also give up something special for Lent, that they enjoy. So, Fat Tuesday is a celebration and the opportunity to enjoy that favorite food or snack that you give up for Lent.

Easy Jambalaya
Easy Jambalaya

Nowhere on the planet is Fat Tuesday celebrated more than on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The day is filled with parties and parades and of course a lot of food and drink. On Bourbon Street, store owners coat light poles and columns with Vaseline to keep the crowds from climbing them during Mardi Gras.

New Orleans Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras
New Orleans Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras

Jambalaya originated in the French Quarter of New Orleans, in the 18th century. It was an attempt by the Spanish to make paella in the New World, where saffron was not readily available. Tomatoes became the substitute ingredient for saffron.  Like curry in other countries, Every Cajun/creole family has its own recipe for jambalaya.

After the meal, have some King Cake (Below) for Fat Tuesday dessert

King Cake for Fat Tuesday
King Cake for Fat Tuesday
Easy Jambalaya for Mardi Gras

Easy Jambalaya

Easy Jambalaya Recipe, a perfect recipe for Fat Tuesday, which begins Mardi Gras. The simplicity of this Jambalaya recipe is genius and it turns out great every time!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun, Creole
Keyword: Jambalaya, Mardi Gras
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 768kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or large pan with a cover

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 10 oz smoked andouille sausage sliced into rounds
  • 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning see note below
  • 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 Box Zatarain’s Jambalaya
  • 2.5 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 lb raw shrimp tails off peeled and de veined
  • Sliced green onions and chopped parsley to garnish

OPTIONAL

  • 1 tsp each thyme and oregano
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne powder
  • 1/2 tsp hot sauce
  • 1 cup thinly sliced okra
  • 1 tsp file powder

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery until the onion is soft and translucent.
  • Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
  • Add the sausage and chicken pieces, and season with the Cajun seasoning.
  • Sauté until chicken is cooked and no pink is showing
  • Stir in the crushed tomatoes and mix well
  • Add in the Zatarain’s rice mixture and water (or chicken broth), stir to mix,
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low-medium.
  • Cover and let simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked, stirring occasionally.
  • With about 5 minutes left in the simmer of the rice, put the shrimp on top of the Jambalaya mixture, stir gently, and re-cover with the lid. Shrimp should be done when the rice is done
  • Season with a little extra salt and pepper if needed and remove from heat.
  • Adjust heat with extra hot sauce, Cayenne peppe, or Cajun seasoning.
  • Serve with sliced green onions and parsley.
  • Cornbread is another side dish to serve with Jambalaya
    Corn Muffins in the oven

Video

Notes

Cajun seasoning, Everyone tends to have their own recipe but in general, it’s a blend featuring lots of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 768kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 9.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 2524mg | Potassium: 831mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3.6g | Vitamin A: 794.1IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Easy Jambalaya Recipe
Easy Jambalaya Recipe

Cooking Secrets for Men 

Please “like” our YouTube Videos and follow us on our YouTube Channel. Cooking Secrets For Men is also on other Social Media sites FacebookPinterestInstagram, and Twitter.

“Cooking Secrets for Men” is listed as one of the Top 30 Men’s Cooking Websites on the Internet.  You can read that article here. See where we rank for Men’s Cooking Websites.

Another suggestion for Mardi Gras is our recipe for New Orleans Gumbo

If you liked this recipe for Jambalaya, you should try our recipe for Smashed Potatoes. Or you can try the Irish favorite, our recipe for Colcannon

Unpaid by the following companies

Aloha Honey – https://alohahoney.farm/collections/all-products

Paradise Fruit Co – https://www.paradisefruitco.com/paradise-online-store/

Grillaholics – https://www.grillaholics.com/?ref=CSFM20 (Use Discount Code CSFM20 for all products)

Javy Coffee – https://javycoffee.com/collections/javy

ChefsTemp Thermometers – https://www.chefstemp.com/product/finaltouchx10-meat-thermometer/?tw=cookingsecretsformenThe Discount code is in the link.

E-Cookbooks for free Download

(Of course, Free) – E-Cookbook Vol 5 – Poultry and Chicken ready to download

(Free) – E-Cookbook Vol 4 – “Pasta” (written in English and Italian) is now available to download.

(Yes, Free) –  E-Cookbook Vol 3 – “Appetizers” now available for free download at this link

(Free) – E-Cookbook Series Vol. 2 – “Soups & Stews” is available for free download

(Free) – E-Cookbook Vol 1 – “Sauces you’ll use – A lot”, is available for free download

All of our e-cookbooks are available on our download page.

You can submit your special recipe to us. We would love to recreate it and give you credit. And make a YouTube Video. Just go to this link “Recipe & YouTube Suggestions”. It is at the top of our home page. Click this link for an example of a Recipe Submission from a Subscriber.

We are always looking to collaborate with other bloggers.   If you are interested in a conversation about some sort of collaboration, please contact me. And, send me one of your aprons. I’ll wear it and promote your channel and merchandise.

If you have comments or questions, please contact us at cookingsecretsformen@gmail.com

10 thoughts on “Easy Jambalaya”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating