With a classic Cajun feel, we'll first saute some bell peppers, onion, and celery then toss in smoked sausage, okra, shrimp, tomato sauce, and white rice towards the end. It all comes together in one pot on the stovetop in under 35 minutes.
1cupdiced green bell pepper1 large green bell pepper
1cupdiced red bell pepper1 large red bell pepper
1cupdiced celeryabout 2 ribs of celery
1Tablespoonminced garlic
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
1 1/2teaspoonsSlap Ya Mama Cajun seasoningwe used the white pepper blend
4bay leaves
1poundsmoked sausagesliced
12ouncesfrozen okrathawed
2teaspoonsgarlic salt
1 1/2poundsgrilling shrimppeeled and deveined
1/4cupchicken broth
8ouncestomato sauce
2cupscooked white rice1 cup dry white rice
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper, red bell pepper, celery, minced garlic and Cajun seasoning. Stir everything together and saute for 3-4 minutes. Add smoked paprika, stir and cook for another 1-3 minutes.
Add bay leaves and smoke sausage, stir to combine.
Add okra, garlic salt, shrimp, chicken broth, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine, cover pot, and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
Add cooked rice and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes, enough to heat through.
Notes
Leaving the tails on the shrimp is up to you. Some people prefer to remove them, while others like to keep them on for presentation purposes.
You'll need 1 cup of dry white rice to yield 2 cups cooked that's called for in this recipe.
We are using smoked sausage, but you can substitute with andouille if desired.
If you like it extra spicy, add a diced jalapeno to the skillet with your celery, onion, and bell peppers. You can add in or substitute ingredients as needed, chicken or pork are popular additions to jambalaya.
Store fully cooled leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop until warmed through. If your jambalaya feels a bit dry after storing, add a splash of chicken broth when reheating.