Jambalaya
This recipe may not be as "authentic" as others, because it is not tomato-based and the rice is baked, but if you try it I think you will agree that the flavor makes up for any lack of true Cajun-ness (and you won't find two jambalayas alike in Louisiana anyway).
The secret is the baked rice -- when rice is baked it splits and has a much richer, nuttier flavor which wonderfully complements the other ingredients. The spiciness can be adjusted by decreasing (or increasing!) the amount of cayenne pepper used, and substituting a milder smoked sausage for the andouille.
This recipe will serve about 8, and you'll need to plan on it taking at least 3 hours. But like all good things, it is worth waiting for!
Ingredients
First, you need to find yourself a large (6-8 quart {7.5-10 liter}), heavy pot which will work both on the stove top and in the oven (I use a cast-iron Dutch oven). Put the pot on the stove on medium heat. Chop the bacon relatively fine and cook it down.
While that is cooking, cut the chicken in large pieces and sprinkle liberally with the cayenne pepper. It will cook apart later, so don't make the pieces too small. Once the bacon is nice and crispy, take it out of the pot. We won't be using it, so toss it or save it to put on a salad -- whatever you want. Add the oil (I usually use peanut, but olive or vegetable will work just as well) to the bacon fat, let it heat, then place the chicken in the pan. Let the chicken brown on both sides, but take it out before it gets completely cooked. Set it aside, because we will be using this later.
Slice the smoked sausage and put it in to brown. Cut up the bell peppers, onion, and celery. Reduce the heat slightly and add these to the sausage. Cover and cook until the vegetables begin to get soft. Mince or press the garlic and add it to the pot. Add the green onions, chicken broth, parsley, bay leaves, thyme, tomatoes, and put the chicken back in. Let this mixture simmer uncovered until the liquid is reduced by about 1 cup (usually about an hour).
While it is cooking, preheat the oven to 325° F {160° C}. Add the rice, stir, cover tightly and bake for about an hour. Check it at 20 minute intervals, but only stir it up until about the 30 minute mark (otherwise you will break the grains of rice and the jambalaya will be too gooey, although it will still taste fine). It is done, not when the liquid is all absorbed, but rather when the grains of rice have split lengthwise.
Remove from heat, stir, and let sit for about 15 minutes. Serve with fresh bread and a green salad.
This recipe is based on "Chicken Jambalaya"
found in The Fannie Farmer Cookbook
(Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 13th ed., 1996).
Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
by Hank Williams
This song has been covered by everyone from Ray Charles
to John Fogerty to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and in styles
ranging from cajun-French zydeco, to a show tune, to a hideous
80s pop version. I believe that these lyrics are accurate, but I
have no idea what "machez amio" means. That is what Hank
sings, and what most of the online lyrics say, but as far as I
can tell it's not French (which is the only language that would
make sense in a song sung from a Cajun's point of view). Even
if it is gibberish, though, the meaning is clear.
Good-bye, Joe, me gotta go, me-o, my-o,
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me-o, my-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a filé gumbo,
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
The Thibodeaux's, the Fontaineaux's, the place is buzzin',
Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen.
Dress in style and go hog wild, me-o, my-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a filé gumbo,
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
[This verse is often skipped, and was probably
added by one of the artists that covered the song.]
Settle down far from town, get me a pirogue,
And I'll catch all the fish in the bayou.
Swap my mon' to buy Yvonne what she need-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.
(Chorus)
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a filé gumbo,
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o,
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou.