Easy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
Photo Credit: @MapulasTable
INGREDIENTS
3 lbs chicken parts with skin on (legs, thighs breast) 1 13 oz pack of turkey kielbasa, sliced ½ inch thick 2 large vidalia onions, plus ½ 1 green bell pepper 1 cup chopped celery 8 garlic cloves 1 cup celery chopped, plus 2 stalks 2 limes 1 tbs kosher salt 4 bayleaf 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 whole carrot 1 cup tomato sauce 6 romano tomatoes peeled and chopped 1 tbs dried oregano ½ tsp dried basil ½ tsp paprika 1 ½ tsp cayenne pepper ¼ ground allspice 6 cloves 3 cups uncooked jasmine or calrose rice 1 tbs Tabasco
DIRECTIONS
Soak chicken in water with lime juice and kosher salt for 15 minutes. Rinse and half fill pot with water, add chicken. Add 2 bay leaf, ½ vidalia onion, cloves, 2 celery stalks, 2 garlic cloves, fresh thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil and simmer until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken parts to a dish to cool. Meanwhile, strain broth and use to cook rice.
In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, add onions, bell pepper, celery, oregano and garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Add turkey kielbasa and cook until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Add tomato sauce, tomatoes , tabasco and remaining spices. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Meantime, remove skin and bones from chicken parts and break chicken into bite-size pieces. Add to sauce. Simmer for additional 10 minutes.
Wash rice until water runs clear, drain and place in medium size pot. Pour enough chicken broth in pot until it rises to about 1 inch above the level of rice in pot, cover and bring to a rapid boil, then reduce heat to low. The rice should be completely cooked between 20-25 minutes. Finally, fold cooked rice into chicken and sausage melange. Jambalaya is a Louisiana original dish of Spanish and French influence consisting of meat and vegetables mixed with rice. In Spain it is known as Paella, in West Africa, Nigeria, it is known as Jollof Rice, in the Caribbean it is known as Pelau. All four dishes are equally delicious. This version is simple and easy to follow.