In our home, we like our food to have a kick of flavor. And this Jambalaya dish that my husband Erik created certainly delivers. Whenever Mardi Gras season rolls around, I am always craving New Orleans inspired meals. Though I’ve never been there, I absolutely love the flavors of Mardi Gras dishes.
In fact, this time of year brings up some feelings of nostalgia for me because my husband and I met each other while waiting tables together. And one of the restaurants we worked at together was a Pappadeaux Seafood restaurant in the Chicago area. It serves New Orleans inspired seafood and during Mardi Gras season, they always had a fun festival atmosphere. Well, sadly that restaurant closed so now whenever we crave New Orleans style food, Erik must make it himself. Luckily, he is very good at that! 😉
So this yummy Jambalaya is made with chicken, shrimp and Andouille Sausage. Let me say something about the sausage; Yes, you could use any type of smoked sausage for this meal, but if you really want to drive the flavors home, you should buy a quality Andouille sausage. Erik bought the kind used in this recipe at Whole Foods. The flavor that it imparts to the whole dish is amazing!
To compliment the dish, I made a skillet Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Bread. The mild spice of this cornbread really pairs nicely with the flavors of the Jambalaya! And it can be mixed up and baked quickly!
So what if you don’t live in New Orleans! You can still whip up the spice and flavors of Mardi Gras in your own kitchen! Go ahead and make this Mardi Gras Jambalaya with Jalapeño Cheddar Corn bread and kick up the flavor in your home!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. Andouille sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 1 sweet onion (small dice)
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder (granules)
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 in. cubes
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5-ounce)
- 1 can tomato sauce (15-ounce)
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 1 lb. shrimp (medium large 36-40) peeled and deveined
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 1 c. cornmeal
- 1/2 c. all purpose flour
- 2 TBLSP sugar
- 1 TBLSP baking powder
- 1/2 t. salt
- 2 TBLSP of unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 c. milk
- 1/3 c. sourcream
- 1 egg
- 1 c. cheddar cheese
- 2 TBLSP Jalapeño (minced, seeds removed)
Instructions
- Sauté the Andouille in a heavy bottomed stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until it is well rendered and lightly browned. Remove the sausage from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté the onion and garlic in the pot for 5-7 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
- Add the rice and spices stirring until well mixed. Add the chicken, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and Andouille sausage. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, cover and reduce to a low simmer for 15 minutes, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and cook for 5 minutes more. Serve immediately. Garnish with sliced green onions.
- Spray a medium cast iron skillet with cooking spray and preheat oven to 425 degrees
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add melted butter, milk, sour cream and egg and mix until blended. Mix in cheese and jalapeño and pour the batter into the skillet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
For other New Orleans inspired dishes check out these at my friend Kristi’s blog, Inspiration Kitchen. She has some great ideas!
Hot and Spicy Jambalaya with pasta
Oh girllllll… you KNOW I’m totally down with this dish! Bring on the spice, the heat and get in the kitchen in New Orleans! I love it! Jalapeno Cornbread? Oh yes! Love ya and LOVE this dish – both the Jambalaya AND the Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread! You are so speaking my language!
I always love your New Orleans inspired dishes Kristi! We are SO going there one day!! 🙂
I LOVE New Orleans type of food. The Mr. and I went to the New Orleans themed Disney hotel in Florida and it was heavenly for me all around! Your jambalaya looks so delicious and authentic and I am practically drooling at your jalapeño cornbread!!
That New Orleans themed hotel at Disney looks SO fun!! Thank you so much!! 🙂
My taste buds just kicked into high gear seein this– I love all of the flavors and the heat in jambalaya, and that cornbread looks out of this world!
Thank you Marcie! Your food always looks so flavorful too! 🙂
My husband would go NUTS for this! haha He loves jambalaya and orders it a lot when we go out. I’ve actually never made it at home … I need to just give it a try!
Yes Ashley, you SHOULD make it at home!! I actually don’t often order it in restaurants because I think it tastes so much better when my husband just makes it!! If your hubby loves jambalaya, he would go nuts over you if you made it for him!! 😉
I LOVE jambalaya, actually all Cajun food really! I bet the jalapeño corn bread is a great addition! 🙂
Thank you Christina! The corn bread really does go great with it. It’s a yummy meal all around!! 🙂
I’ve never tried to do jambalaya but I am going to. Thanks for the inspiration!
I have no doubt that you will love it Kristen!! 🙂
New Orleans is one place I would LOVE to go to! Loving this dish, Renee… especially the kick to it! Our family is all about a little kick to our meals, as well!
Right Gloria! I keep saying….One day!! 🙂
We love a kick of flavor in our foods and jambalaya has always been a dish we order out that I have wanted to try making at home. This looks absolutely mouthwatering Renee – I love all the flavors in here and the cornbread looks incredible!
I am sure you would make a great Jambalaya Kelly! Thank you for the compliments!! 🙂
My husband and I love spicy food too! This looks delicious!! He’s not into seafood though…more for me. 😉 I love love love how you added jalapenos and cheese to the cornbread. That could be a meal on its own for me. 🙂
You know, sometimes my husband makes this dish without the shrimp. But I love it!! And I’m like you Tina, I love cornbread!!
We love spicy food in my house too, so I’m going to put this on my “must try” list for sure! 🙂 So sorry the restaurant closed, but I’m happy for you that your hubby is handy in the kitchen!!
Jocelyn, I am SO blessed that my hubby is a great cook! Thanks for your kind words!! 🙂
This looks absolutely PERFECT Renee! Sooo making this for my husband! Pinned and sharing on FB tomorrow 🙂
Thanks so much Trish! It really is quite a tasty dish!! 🙂
This Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread looks insane! I love me some cornbread with a bit of heat!
I love jambalaya and spicy cornbread, so this looks so good to me! Thanks for sharing two fab recipes with us at Saturday Night Fever!
With the Jambalaya meal you brought back atmosphere in New orleans. I’m a great fan from spicy food. You inspired me a lot.
Thank you!!