For those unfamiliar, jambalaya is a regional Louisiana dish with West African, French, and Spanish influence. It usually consists of andouille sausage, chicken, often shrimp, and a variety of vegetables such as onion, bell pepper, celery, and tomato.Jambalaya isn't complicated to make, even for someone like me who isn't exactly a master chef. I associate it with the fun Mardi Gras season, and it is appropriately hearty for late winter. I also enjoy the similar dishes gumbo and etouffe, but for some reason, jambalaya is my favorite.
The origin story of jambalaya is that it was cooked up by a mad scientist using gamma radiation. Wait, no, that would be the superhero version. When Louisiana cooks tried to make Spanish paella without all the traditional ingredients, jambalaya was born. The name comes from the French jambalaia, which means a mish-mash or a mix-up. But for the indigenous Atakapa people, the word means, "Be full, not skinny. Eat up!" That's my kind of advice!
This is for you, fellow Seinfeld fans:
Yum. this made me hungry. (Sorry for not checking out posts earlier, but I'm sheltering in a place with little internet service)
ReplyDeleteBeth, I hope you're staying safe and healthy, wherever you are!
DeleteYes, "this" is quite a lot to wrap our heads around, isn't it? Thank you for stopping by, Stuart!
ReplyDeleteI think I've made jambalaya once, many years ago and I don't remember the outcome. You've inspired me to try to again (but veggie) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be delicious!
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