Last Updated on November 13, 2019 by Chef Mireille
This Easy Shmeezy Oven Jambalaya is the perfect marriage of flavors prevalent in Bayou Cooking, defining the perfect #onepotmeal
#FatTuesday is tomorrow, otherwise known as Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans since 1699. Also known as Carnival. The date for this festival changes every year as it all depends when Ash Wednesday is. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and Mardi Gras falls on the day before Ash Wednesday. This Christian based festival is also celebrated throughout the Caribbean, European countries with a large Catholic base (France, Spain) and many other countries throughout the world.
Many foods from New Orleans/Cajun cuisine start appearing in restaurant specials around this time, whether or not you are in New Orleans. Every single bar is having a #FatTuesday party. I am here presenting one of the most traditional Cajun dishes to celebrate Mardi Gras with you. Practically every culture in the world has a form of Tomato Rice and this is New Orleans’ version. Jambalaya is a one pot meal made of tomatoes, rice and any variety of proteins that usually include, shrimp, sausage, chicken and any other varieties of seafood from alligator to crawfish. Louisiana is basically swampland so frog, alligator and many of these swamp creatures find their way into Cajun jambalaya, gumbo or seafood boil’s.
In the past, I always made jambalaya stovetop like most other rice dishes. However, I was teaching a culinary summer camp a few years ago and one of my students was from New Orleans. After reading the recipe, she said that is not the way her Mom makes it. Her Mom just combined everything, tops with a few pats of butter and sticks in the oven. I always feel no matter how long you have been in the culinary industry, you must always be open to learning new techniques otherwise you will never grow as a chef. I was willing to try it and love the way everything was gently steamed in the oven. This is the easiest jambalaya ever – no sauteeing, no constantly stirring so the tomato sugars don’t caramelize too much and start to stick to the bottom of the pot. Just stick it in t he oven and forget about it!
Before I get to today’s Jambalaya, let’s take a look at some other foods of New Orleans –
New Orleans Cuisine
- Bourbon Bread Pudding
- Shrimp & Okra Gumbo
- Zulu King Cake
- Blood Orange Beignet
- Fried Okra Salad
- Hush Puppies with Spicy Corn Aioli
Have some of this delicious Jambalaya and get transported to the French Quarter!
IN THE MAKING
The jambalaya gets gently steamed in the oven and this makes the perfect #onepotmeal
Easy Shmeezy Oven Jamabalya
Ingredients
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 large onions chopped
- 1 large bell pepper chopped
- 3 finely chopped garlic cloves
- sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 oz. smoked chicken sausage chopped
- 1 lb chicken tenderloin cut into bite size pieces
- 7 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
- 3 cups rice
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 1 ½ tablespoons Cajun or Blackened seasoning
- Salt to taste
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large casserole dish, combine all ingredients except the butter.
- Stir to combine.
- Divide the butter and place dollops of the butter on top.
- Cover and transfer to oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Give it a stir. Bake for another 45 minutes.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#78
I have never tried cajun seasoning before, it must have made the jambalaya very flavorful and inviting.
its very flavorful – there are variations but basically its cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, parsley, oregano are the main ingredients
This is indeed a dump and bake recipe! Makes the preparation so easy.
yep – go do your laundry – come back and dinner is ready!
I am sure the meat in there can be substituted with beans and the cajun seasoning might be a winner in here!
sure – beans would make a great substitute
I recently had been to a Cajun restaurant and loved the vegetarian version of Jambalaya. I probably should convert your recipe to meatless version. As always loved reading your post.
I am sure a Vegetarian version would be just as delicious
This is such a flavorful rice dish. Would tofu be a good substitute for the meat in this dish. May be beans would also be a good addition here.
Sure fry up some tofu seasoned up with Cajun spices
Chicken and shrimp jambalaya makes me hungry already. Am sure this dish will definitely please my chicken and shrimp loving family. And i just love cajun spices very much.
Cajun spices definitely add a very special kick!
looking very tempting recipe with bell peppers and chicken. surely non vegetarian will love it
thanks – yes its a great one pot meal
Mireille we as cooks and chefs are always learning new techniques. Its best to be open minded. Love the jambalaya color… I would probably add beans and paneer to make it into a veggie version. Mentioning French Quarters, took me down to memory lane when we visited New Orleans many years ago.