Tuesday 16 June 2020

SPICY JAMBALAYA SALADS: Fathers' Day Indulgence, Triple Duty

So not run-of-the-mill: a nippy, zippy gorgeously moist salad of Classic Jambalaya (vegetarian version below)... 
Perfect for Fathers' Day: salad of Classic Jambalaya with rice, seafood and meat, and loads of vegetables  
'I was a bit iffy about cold jambalaya but it was really fantastic.' Taster

Jambalaya, a popular highly seasoned rice dish from the deep south of the United States, is normally a hot dish but...hey, it's summer!  And also, this one from 67goingon50 is designed for a Fathers' Day celebration.  In June.  

It's one of the blog's popular Triple Duty dishes, with a vegan base and a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian/vegan protein.  All three versions can be made from one base.  Or choose one version or two, divide the base accordingly and add preferred protein in the appropriate weight.  

Jambalaya is a true multi-cultural dish, influenced by West African, French, Spanish and Native American cuisine.  

Classic jambalaya includes bell peppers, celery, spices and tomato.  Protein is usually pork/bacon (these days also chicken), smoked sausage and seafood.  But like its Spanish sister, paella, Jambalaya is for all budgets...stick to one protein or avoid them altogether and just add lots of vegetables.  

67's Jambalaya Salad starts the day before it's needed and does take a bit of work.  But it's so worth it! It's perfect for a family gathering; get the best chefs into the kitchen and have a good natter while putting it all together!

Cost: depends on what's in your fridge but say, £10-12 if starting from scratch (Cut costs by using leftovers and taking advantage of M&S 3 deli pots for £7: prawns, calamari, antipasti - artichoke hearts, sunblush tomatoes, olives)
Serves: a crowd

Ingredients: 

   1.5 cups raw brown rice

 Jambalaya Sauce  
   1 tb olive oil
   1 large onion, pref sweet
   2 med cloves garlic
   1 large bell pepper
   2 large sticks peeled celery
   3 tb parsley
   3/4 cup fresh corn
   50gm/2oz finely chopped mushrooms 

   large bay leaf
   1 tsp cayenne pepper OR 1.5 tsp chilli flakes (67 tested M&S adobe chilli flakes which added a lovely layer of smoky heat)
   2x400gm28oz tins tomatoes
   90gm/3.7oz smoked* or regular tomato paste (67 tested M&S smoked tomato paste which heightened interest; you may need more paste with other brands)
    Tabasco or other hot sauce (opt) 
   
The following amounts are for the full amount of the base; divide - or not - according to choice

CLASSIC JAMBALAYA SALAD: 
    Total:1/2 kilo/16 oz mixed bacon/pork or chicken, pork fillet, spicy sausage or prawns 
67 used:
   3 slices smoked bacon
   one roasted chicken breast
   1 Toulouse sausage
   4oz bacon/pork
   and
  a handful each of:
     cooked prawns
     cooked calamari
     cooked flaked cod

Garnish: fresh parsley stalks, lemon slices


SEAFOOD JAMBALAYA SALAD: 
    Total: 1/4 to 1/2 kilo/8-16 oz of any or all of:
        prawns
        calamari
        white fish
        salmon
    any other quick cooking green veg: green beans, mange tout, snap peas etc
    fresh or dried dill (opt)
  
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN JAMBALAYA SALAD:
Vegetarian Jambalaya Salad: 
67 used veggie frankfurters, haricot beans,
 artichoke hearts, mushrooms, sun-blush toms
& toasted pumpkin seeds
   Total: 1/4-1/2 kilo/8-16 oz of any/all:
      smoked firm tofu
      cooked, spicy veggie/vegan sausages 
      1/2 cup drained rinsed beans, black or haricot
      handful of artichoke hearts OR olives OR sun-blush tomatoes 
      toasted pumpkin seeds 
     150gm/5.2 oz mushrooms, thickly sliced; sautéed  & in olive oil & lemon juice


Method:

   Start the day before.
  1. Cook rice according to instructions; spread out on a tray; cool at least 1 hour; clingfilm & refrigerate
Jambalaya Sauce:
  1. Heat a large heavy bottomed pan over high heat; add oil  
  2. Dice onions medium fine, add to pan, reduce heat to med high, fry without allowing to brown - about 8 mins
  3. Top, tail & de-seed pepper & peel celery; chop both in med dice.  Grate garlic.  Add to onions with a bit more oil if needed; stir 1 min; add parsley, corn & diced mushrooms
  4. Turn heat down to med low; partially cover the pan; sweat the veg 10-15 mins, stirring occasionally 
  5. Add tins of tomatoes and tomato paste; add a bit of water to tins  tins to loosen tomatoes left behind & add liquid to pot; sprinkle over cayenne pepper or chilli flakes; add bay leaf; stir
  6. Bring to the boil; cover, simmer 30-35 mins, stirring occasionally
  7. At end of cooking, if tomatoes are not broken down, bash with a spoon. Taste.  Season generously with salt & pepper; add more chilli flakes or tabasco, to taste
  8. If offering two or three versions, divide rice accordingly.  Add enough Jambalaya Sauce to the rice to coat but not overwhelm. Cool, cover & rest overnight.  
  1. When ready to serve, add proteins as listed in the measures appropriate to the amount of rice
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley or lemon slices
Comments:
'I wasn't sure about this but found it fantastic.  The rice was beautifully flavoured and moist without clumping together.  There were lots of interesting additions; you could double the rice to no ill effect.' Retired writer.

Tips:
  • leftover sauce freezes well and can be served hot or cold over pasta or potatoes
  • leftover jambalaya can be gently reheated with extra sauce for a hot dish
Note: 67 cobbled together this recipe from various favourite sources: Epicurious and Food & Wine, both of which 67 recommends.  The blog does not have the resources to check out restaurants for food ideas but the web is a great choice and is very helpful in sorting out proportions of ingredients.  
                      Please leave a Comment in the box below

 This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.

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