Cajun Pork Jambalaya Recipes

CAJUN PORK JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
• In a large, heavy cast-iron pot with a heavy lid over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon, chop into pieces and save for later.
• Add the onions, celery, and bell pepper to the bacon drippings. Cook until translucent and add the garlic. Cook for another 2 minutes and then remove the vegetables to a platter.
• In the same pot, add the sausages, tasso, and ham. Continue to sauté until the meats turn brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. Deglaze the pot by pouring in the beer and scraping the bits from the bottom of the pot while stirring.
• Add the bacon pieces, all of the browned vegetables, parsley, and green onions. Add the cayenne and a couple of shakes of hot sauce along with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Add the rice to the pot and stir until evenly distributed. Add the stock and stir again.
• Here is the important point of jambalaya cooking - cover the pot and place in the hot oven for 1 hour. Open a cold beer and forget about it. Do not stir or even raise the lid on the pot for the first hour. In that hour, all the flavors are coming together, and the rice is gently cooking.
• At the end of 1 hour, take a peek, but do not stir (or it will become sticky and starchy). Make sure most of the stock has been absorbed and take a taste to see if the rice is cooked to at least al dente. If so, turn off the oven, cover the pot and let it continue cooking in the carryover heat of the oven for another 20 minutes.
• When your guests are seated, remove the pot from the oven and place in the middle of the table. Uncover and dig in. Oh, and be sure to have lots of French bread and ice-cold beer.

PORK AND SAUSAGE JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• In a 6-8 quart cast iron pot add one cup of cooking oil and turn heat on medium to high.
• Add pork and cook until all water evaporates from the meat.
• Turn heat to low and add onions on top of meat.
• Stir bottom frequently to keep pork and onions from sticking.
• Cook until onions become glazed and most of the liquid has evaporated from them.
• Add 3/4 quart of water and 1/2 lb. of sausage and turn heat to low boil.
• Make mental note of water level in pot.
• Cook 10 minutes, adding seasonings to taste.
• Turn heat off and check water level to make sure it has not decreased much.
• Replace water if needed.
• Skim off excess oil, leaving a small amount.
• Turn heat back to low boil and season to taste again.
• Add extra salt and pepper because the rice will absorb much of the seasonings.
• Turn heat on medium to high and stir in the rice and make sure the rice is completely covered by the water.
• Set the timer for 20-25 minutes and don't touch.
• Stir and serve.

CAJUN JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large enameled cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet. Cook, turning occasionally to brown chicken all over, about 8 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate, leaving oil in skillet.
• Add sausage, cook turning once to brown, about 1 minute per side. Remove to plate with chicken, leaving oil in skillet. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining tablespoon oil, onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, scraping brown bits from bottom of pan and stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden, about 8 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add bay leaf, paprika, cayenne, oregano, and thyme and continue to cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Return meat and any accumulated juices to skillet. Stir in broth, increase heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender, 20 minutes. Serve.