As guests enter your eatery and begin to defrost from the freezing winter temps outside, see how quickly they’ll happily warm up when you put a plate of hearty, flavorful Jambalaya in front of them.
An homage to New Orleans’ culinary landscape of fresh, bountiful flavors, Jambalaya is a versatile, one-pot wonder of savory, slow-cooked, seasoned rice combined with fresh meats such as chicken, ham, and smoked sausage, and/or seafood such as shrimp, crab, clams, and mussels … a combination of flavors guests are sure to love.
And what makes Jambalaya such a perfect, much-loved meal for chefs to prepare is the versatility of this dish. By definition, Jambalaya means “a mixture of diverse elements.” Thus, the potential flavors and mix of ingredients can prove endless.
Inspired by such feasts as ‘peasant pots,’ paella, farmhouse casseroles, and the like, Jambalaya is an effortless crowd-pleaser, livened by readily available ingredients and great spices. What more can you ask for while creating flavorful dishes to add to your seasonal menu rotation?
Serve alone or complement the dish with some crusty ciabatta bread or a salad of freshly chopped winter greens. Once the cold weather changes, you can modify your Jambalaya with some lighter, seasonal ingredients, vegetables, and herbs to reflect the warm months ahead!
DC’s Farmers Fishers Bakers Seafood Chesapeake Style Jambalaya