Jambalaya
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Jambalaya

1 hr
Serves 9
Cajunchickensausage

Chicken thighs and andouille seared in a Dutch oven with onion, bell pepper, garlic, and toasted rice, finished with diced tomatoes, clam juice, and chicken broth — oven at 325°F for 25 minutes, then shrimp stirred in for the final 5.

The Story

Jambalaya is a Dutch oven recipe that builds in layers, and the shrimp goes in last. Everything else gets cooked in sequence in the same pot — chicken thighs first over high heat until the outside is nicely colored (they don't need to be cooked through yet), then out of the pan. Andouille goes in next, scraping up the chicken bits. Drain the excess grease, then onion and bell pepper until translucent. Rice goes in and toasts in the fat. Chicken gets cut into bite-sized pieces and goes back in with all its juices and the minced garlic. Then diced tomatoes, clam juice, and chicken broth — bring it to a boil, lid on, and into a 325°F oven for 25 minutes. When the 25 minutes are up, stir in the shrimp and return to the oven for 5 more minutes. Lid back on, rest 5 minutes off heat, then fluff with a fork and serve with hot sauce. Saltine crackers on the side. Tony Chachere's is the seasoning — don't substitute.

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • Oven @ 325°F

Ingredients

  • 4boneless, skinless chicken thighs, seasoned with Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
  • 2 linksandouille sausage, cut into 1/4" pieces
  • 2 tbspvegetable oil
  • 1 mediumonion, medium dice
  • 1bell pepper, medium dice
  • 5 clovesgarlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cupslong grain white rice
  • 1 candiced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 bottleclam juice
  • 2 1/2 cupslow sodium chicken broth
  • 2040–50 count shrimp, thawed and deveined

Pudgy's Notes

Tony Chachere's is the seasoning for this recipe — it's not interchangeable with generic Cajun seasoning. Season the chicken thighs generously. The chicken doesn't need to be cooked through in the initial sear — it finishes in the oven. Drain the excess grease after the andouille or the rice will be greasy. Toasting the rice in the fat before adding liquid is what gives it texture and keeps it from going mushy. Don't lift the lid during the first 25-minute oven cook — the steam is what finishes the rice. If the rice is still a little firm at 25 minutes, add the shrimp, lid back on, and give it the full 5 extra minutes. The shrimp go in last and cook fast — 5 minutes is enough; more than that and they'll be rubbery.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Chop the onion and bell pepper into a medium dice. Set aside, about 2 minutes.

  2. 2

    Mince the garlic by hand or with a press. Set aside, about 2 minutes.

  3. 3

    Season the chicken thighs generously with Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. Set aside, about 2 minutes.

  4. 4

    Cut the andouille sausage into 1/4" pieces. Set aside, about 2 minutes.

  5. 5

    Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Cook the chicken thighs until the outside is nicely browned — they don't need to be cooked through. Reduce heat to medium and remove the thighs from the pan, about 5 minutes.

  6. 6

    Add the andouille to the pan. Cook thoroughly, scraping up any browned chicken bits from the bottom, about 3 minutes.

  7. 7

    Drain off excess grease. Add the onion and bell pepper to the Dutch oven. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.

  8. 8

    Add the rice to the mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the rice is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.

  9. 9

    Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Add back into the Dutch oven along with all the accumulated juices and the minced garlic, about 3 minutes.

  10. 10

    Add the drained diced tomatoes, clam juice, and chicken broth. Increase heat to high and stir occasionally until the mixture comes to a boil, about 5 minutes.

  11. 11

    Once boiling, turn off the stovetop. Place the lid on the Dutch oven and transfer to a 325°F oven. Cook for 25 minutes.

  12. 12

    Remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Stir in the shrimp. Return to the oven for 5 minutes.

  13. 13

    Remove from the oven. Keep the lid on and let rest for 5 minutes.

  14. 14

    Fluff the jambalaya with a fork. Serve with hot sauce. Optional: saltine crackers on the side.

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