Jambalaya

Ingredients:

 1/4 cup cooking oil            

1 & 1/2 cups stock or water

1/2 Ib. smoked sausage, sliced            

1 tsp. thyme

1 cup chopped onion            

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 cup chopped bell pepper            

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 cup chopped celery            

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped green onions            

1 cup converted rice*

2 cloves garlic, minced            

1 1/2 tbls. Worcestershire

1 16 oz. can tomatoes, drained  reserving liquid          

2 Ibs. peeled shrimp

1/2 Ib. boneless cooked chicken, cubed

Instructions:

In a large heavy Dutch oven, saute sausage until lightly browned. Remove from pot. Saute onions, bell peppers, celery, green onions and garlic in meat drippings until tender. Add tomatoes, thyme, pepper and salt. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in rice. Mix together liquid from tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire sauce to equal 2 1/2 cups. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, add raw shrimp, chicken and sausage and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes until rice and shrimp are done.

From the Gumbo Shop , 630 Saint Peter Street, New Orleans, LA

*Converted rice = Parboiled rice  

Notes:   This is a good compromise between nutritious brown rice and tender, fast-cooking white rice.  Converted rice is steamed before it's husked, a process that causes the grains to absorb many of the nutrients from the husk.  When cooked, the grains are more nutritious, firmer, and less clingy than white rice grains. Uncle Ben's is a well-known brand.  Substitutes:  brown rice (more nutritious, takes longer to cook) or white rice (less nutritious, stickier, takes less time to cook) 


“Every one can cook. If you try. If you put a little love into it.” Chef Leah Case