"Jambalaya" by Jordan D

How to make the best Jambalaya in your home. Jambalaya is a Louisiana-Origin dish that has both Spanish and French influence. Jambalaya was created out of necessity, it’s has been said that it originated from the popular dish Paella which is a Spanish dish. It became a staple dish in the south due to large quantities being cooked in one large pot over a wood fire. You would often see this dish at occasions like rallies, weddings, and family reunion. Jambalaya is definitely a must try if you ever visit Louisiana and if you appreciate this southern dish. 

The dish mainly consist of vegetables, spices, meat, seafood, stock, and rice. There are two types of ways to prepare Jambalaya one of the ways is Cajun and the other is Creole. The difference between the two is that Creole includes tomatoes getting its other name known as “Red Jambalaya”. Creole culture can be referred to anyone who has french, spanish, african, or caribbean heritage. In both preparations they both include the holy trinity of vegetables (onion, bell peppers, and celery) while the meat is being cooked together. The Jambalaya that I would be making is the Creolo way or Red Jambalaya the reason being is that it has more flavor than the Cajun Jambalaya. There are many ways you can make it the opinions are endless. A lot of different combinations to choose from and every time you make it will always taste delicious. 

A couple years ago my sister Leeanne or also known as Ms.Do dragged me to a place called Ritter’s Steam Kettle Cooking that specialize in southern cooking. That’s my first time trying actually southern food not counting Popeyes. Don’t get me wrong I love Popeyes it’s my favorite fried chicken place, but I know it’s not authentic southern food. The first thing I tried was the pan roast which I gotta say it wasn’t my cup of tea. When Ms.Do first talked about it she hyped it up on how it tasted like heaven hit your mouth. In reality that was all just a lie. It was very disappointing, but it didn’t stop me from trying other things. That’s when I found the legendary Jambalaya and that tasted like heaven in my mouth. Ever since then I’ve been begging my mom to make it, but she refuses to make it. Being desperate I told myself that just cook it yourself and stop being a child. When I started to make the dish it was very scary due to the fact it was my first time actually cooking something instead of ramen. 

Ingredients

• -  Shrimp
  
• -  Garlic
  
• -  Green onion
  
• -  Medium size onion
  
• -  Three strips of bacon
  
• -  Two cups of white rice
  
• -  Two bell peppers
  
• -  One can of tomatoes and two tablespoons of tomato paste
  
• -  Andouille sausage 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• -  Celery
  
• -  Two knobs of butter
  
• -  Chicken broth
  
• -  Carrots
  
• -  Crabs
  
• -  spices
  Utensils
  

- large and small pot - Ladle
- Knife 

The First step of making Jambalaya is cut and peel all the ingredients that are shown above. All the vegetables have to be diced up except for carrots they will be sliced up into one inch knobs. Next, is to behead and peel the shrimp and toss the head in the large pot with olive oil and stir them around for a minute or two. Then, add the crab to the pot leaving it there for about a minute afterwards add the chicken broth place the stove on high and heat it up to a boil thus creating your seafood stock. 

Now time to add the carrots to the pot and reduce the heat bringing it down to a simmer and let that sit for about two hours. The best part it’s time to introduce some fat you’re gonna get the three strips of bacon and cut them into one inch strips and toss that into a separate pot. The bacon is gonna sizzle and let it brown while that happens you’re gonna introduce the holy trinity which consists of celery, onion, and bell peppers and just add them to the pot. 

The rice comes next, you’re gonna need two cups of white rice and make sure you wash it two times to get rid of that scratchy taste. Then toss that to the small pot where the holy trinity is at and the goal is to toast the rice and wanna keep stirring the ingredients so that it doesn’t get stuck to the bottom of the pot. While the rice is being toasted you’re gonna add the diced up garlic and green onion sprinkle it on top and keep on stirring.
Now for the Andouille sausages you wanna sliced them up and add them to the pot as well. You wanna give it one nice stir make sure you dig from the bottom so that the none of the ingredients get stuck resulting in burnt food. After, that you wanna add the one can of tomatoes and two tablespoons of tomato paste. Remember the seafood stock that you made in the

beginning it’s time to extract two cups of it and add it to the small pot. Now for the spices add some salt, pepper, oregano, and paprika.Give it one finally stir and place the lid on top and cook it for about 30 minutes. Time for the last piece the shrimp add that to the pot and turn off the heat, because we will be using the residual heat to cook the shrimp. When you add the shrimp don’t stir it, but take your ladle and go from the bottom back to the top. Now for the best part it’s time to eat the best Jambalaya in the whole world.