Jambalaya .. New Orleans style

Its been a while!!!! So much can happen in a hour, or even a day let alone a a few months however lets just stick with last week!!! Phewie - Wow - what a week. Riots in London & across England .. Riots & Looting!!! Huh & I thought the English just don't loot. However, an illogical decent into mindless disregard, conspiracy theories accompanied with the usual flummoxing questions like "what ever happened to good manners, great respect, much honour & shared responsibility towards each other" just mustn't enter an already hot Hot HOT kitchen :)  Without further ado lets get to the fun dish that is known as  Jambalaya!! Now I have made this before many years ago & a few times, each time recipe being different ingredients - each result nice. Its not my favourite kind of meal served onto a plate but it does serve a purpose. . . a quick, tasty & a little varied flavours & textures. Actually I was feeling lazy - very lazy & tired  - maybe it perhaps would've been more delicious served with a platter of delicious side vegetables or side salad. However after a week full of meals, baking, sight seeing, more cooking, more dishes due to company staying with us a lazy quick option seemed heavenly perfect & perfect it was.

One of our guests is an American, she is getting married next year in New Orleans, were all invited to the Shindig. Part of our invitation was hand written date on a New Orleans postcard, purchased last month whilst she was visiting suitable wedding venues in New Orleans. What a great way to serve - as a memo - the dates of the wedding to write into next years diary until the proper invitations arrive. These postcards are both ideal & useful, each one of them sharing a typical New Orleans recipe.  Mine being the recipe for Jambalaya!!  

 Jambalaya 

Ingredients

Smoked Sausage  ( I used Chorzio)

Cooked Ham

Red Pepper

Green Spring Onions  ( I used red onions too)

Celery  (I didnt have any)

Garlic Cloves

Thyme

Tin of Plum Tomatoes

Cayenne Pepper (I used smoked paprika & paprika)

Ham Stock

Salt, Pepper

Worcestershire Sauce

Rice  (I used long grain)

I also added French Green Beans & *Petite Pois in place of the celery, *frozen ones defrosted by pouring boiling water over them, then adding a capful of shrimp boil (another American gift) to add some further spice . . app the spice increases the longer the peas (usually shrimp) are soaked into this liquid flavouring! Seemed a good - interesting - way to add some heat & to try it out  :)

Method

• Remove outer skin from chorzio, cut into quarter pieces
• Cut ham into cubes
• Add both chorzio & ham into a large caldron style pan to saute

• Peel & chop the Spring onions & red onion
• Wash & deseed the red pepper, slice into small pieces
• Peel, top & tail the garlic, crush & dice into tiny pieces
• Add all chopped ingredients into the pan to saute alongside the sausage & ham

• Add lid & saute for a little while
• Wash & rinse the rice in plenty of cold water until water is clear
• Prepare tinned tomatoes, ham stock & spices
• Add all into the pan & mix

• Bring to boil then cook on high heat for about 10 mins without lid
• Reduce heat & add lid. Stir regularly add water if necessary
• After 20 mins switch off, stir return lid & allow to soak up juices. 

• A tasty, speedy cauldron style cooking which suits so many different needs. 

• The added spicy peas were nice but it was equally as tasty without, The shrimp boil/sauce has a very distinctive flavour but I cant yet get what it is, its a very clean flavour .. almost aniseed/fennel hint.
• Serve hot & enjoy :)

• Mmmmmm the rice is actually full of flavours, the smoky sausage, the spicy paprika - delicious
• I shall make this again sometime soon, but will also try with Spinneys favourite flavourings. 
• Thats the beauty of using rice, it does lend itself to many flavours & needs. Egg fried rice, curry & rice, stroganoff . Brilliant food medium :)