Jambalaya

Serves 5
Preparation time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

Tick off the ingredients as you buy them

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 180g bacon , preferably smoked, chopped
  • 200g andouille or smoked sausage, sliced 0.5cm thick
  • 300g chicken thigh, skinless boneless, cut into 2.5cm pieces
  • 12 prawns/shrimp, raw, large, (peeled, with or without tails)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp (15g) butter
  • 1 onion, large, cut into 1.5 cm pieces
  • 2 celery ribs, cut into 1.5 cm pieces
  • 2 green capsicum, medium, cut into 1.5 cm pieces
  • 1.25 cups long grain rice, uncooked
  • 2.5 cups (625ml) chicken broth / stock
  • 200g crushed canned tomato
  • 2 tbsp Val Verde Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup green onions, sliced, plus more for serving
  • CAJUN SPICE MIX:
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
  • 4 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne powder (adjust spice to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 180C (all types).
2. Heat oil in a very large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat.
3. Add bacon, cook for 30 seconds (to start fat melting), then add sausages. Cook until sausages are golden - about 3 minutes - then remove into bowl.
4. Add chicken into the pan and cook until golden (doesn't need to cook inside), then add to bowl with bacon.
5. Sear prawns in the pan for 1.5 minutes on each side, then transfer to a separate bowl (reserve until later).
6. Add butter, then garlic, onion, celery and capsicum. Cook for 5 minutes or until soft.
7. Add rice, stir to coat grains in oil.
8. Add chicken broth, tomato paste, canned tomato, thyme and Spices.
9. Stir well, then add chicken, sausages and bacon (including all liquid).
10. When you see bubbles across most of the surface, stir well once more. Ensure all rice is submerged, cover with lid, then transfer to oven.
11. Bake 30 minutes, then remove - rice should be practically cooked.
12. Add prawns/shrimp and green onions, QUICKLY (but gently!) stir through, cover with lid, and return to oven for just 3 minutes (just to heat prawns).
13. Remove from oven, stir gently then serve, garnished with more green onions if desired.