Weekend Family Delight: Special Jambalaya

One of the many dishes Nigerians adopted from the western world is Jambalaya. It is a very popular dish that has Spanish and French influence. It’s prepared with chicken, shrimp, sausages, and rice – or a variation of that – and it is comfort food at its best. Jambalaya is one of the easiest one-pot meals you can put together, even on a busy weeknight. If you want to learn how to make it, you’re in the right place. Just read on to find out how to go about this amazing dish.

What You’ll Need

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Onion, finely chopped
• bell peppers, chopped
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 tsp. oregano(optional)
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• sausage, sliced
• cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• Chicken stock
• Tinned tomatoes
• 1 c. long grain rice
• Bay leaf
• 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
• green onions, thinly sliced

Cooking Directions

1. In a large oven over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and bell peppers and season with salt and pepper.
2. Cook until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
3. Cook until the chicken is golden, about 5 minutes, then stir in andouille sausage, garlic, and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
4. Add chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, rice and bay leaf.. Reduce heat to medium low, cover with a tight fitting lid, and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is almost absorbed, about 20 minutes.
5. Add the shrimp to the pot and cook until the shrimp is pink and cooked through, three to five minutes.
6. Stir in green onions just before serving.
7. Voila! Your meal is ready! You can enjoy it with a chilled glass of juice or whine- the choice is yours!!