slo’s MONDAY 10/9 poll - Jambalaya

[PollyannaMom]

But my favorite is with Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits. (I love those things!)

Me too!!!

And to the original question - Yes, I like jambalaya, with any of the meats listed (preferably all of them!) I've made the boxed kind at home and ordered it in a restaurant.

 

[disneychrista]

I’ve made it with Zatarain’s and sausage for Madri Gras.

 

[Moliphino]

My mom makes the Zatarain's kind on occasion, usually with sausage and chicken. I like it fine.
I don't eat seafood, so I wouldn't eat it with shrimp.

 

[AussieFan8]

I love it and make it from scratch since I have to avoid spicy foods. However, it can still be challenging to make it at home using store-bought Creole or Cajun seasoning because the heat levels can vary. If anyone knows of a great, readily available brand of very flavorful but not hot Creole or Cajun seasoning, please let me know!

ETA: Emeril's jambalaya recipe is an easy one for those who want to try it and easy to adjust spice level.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I don't like it, I LOVE it (at least the chicken variety). I used to get it at Popeyes, (unfortunately it seems to no longer be on the menu there) and thought it was pretty darn good. I tried some at a casino restaurant that was prepared by an authentic chef. That stuff was life changing!

I have never tried to make it myself, but I will order it at a restaurant if it is available.

 

[leebee]

We all enjoy jambalaya, with any of the proteins listed. Sometimes I use Zatarains, sometimes I make it from scratch. My sister has lived in NOLA since 1984, so we have several different recipes we've gotten from restaurants in her area, as well as shared "family recipes."

 

[design_mom]

I don't think I've ever had jambalaya before. Spicy + sausage + seafood doesn't really appeal to me, but I'd be willing to try it sometime.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I like it...but tend to gravitate to the sausage and shrimp more than the chicken...sometimes chicken can dry out

 

[CynBeth]

I have never had it.

 

[lucas]

I'm from NOLA, now living in South Florida. I grew up on it and love it. I make it at home and also eat it out in restaurants. That is, mostly restaurants in NOLA. Down here in South Florida restaurants, it is never as good as back home or when I make it myself.

 

[fla4fun]

I like it with spicy sausage and chicken, but I don’t like seafood so no shrimp for me. I don’t make it at home, but I have had it in restaurants.

 

[hertamaniac]

I put mine in a crockpot after making my own roux with the trinity. I then add the chicken and sausage with roasted tomatoes, garlic, chicken stock/water, Cajun/creole seasoning and rice (added after cooking the stew for about 2-3 hours). The final step is adding the shrimp for about 1/2 hour more and then removing the thyme leaves.

Served with cast-iron cornbread.

 

[tvguy]

Never made it at home, only had it in restaurants. As long as it isn't too spicy.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We love jambalaya (although, I prefer gumbos and etouffees if we're going this route). We live in the Houston area with lots of Louisiana transplants in our friend groups. It's also a pretty easy drive to get to spots like Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, etc. We also have a lot of restaurants around here that serve at least two varieties of jambalaya. My husband typically makes chicken and sausage jambalaya if we have it at home, but I'll sometimes opt for a seafood mix (crab and crawfish are common in addition to shrimp...occasionally catfish) if we're going out to eat.

I see some comments about spice and heat, but I don't normally think of jambalaya as a spicy dish unless someone is heavy handed with the heat or you get a spicier brand of andouille (or someone's homemade is hot). It most definitely can be made with some heat, but you're more likely to find that with people's personal recipes. They may also just keep some hot sauce handy so you can spice it up to your liking. That alone can be my make or break. Crystal is my go-to hot sauce, but I cannot stand Tabasco. I've also found that it's a lot easier to make a successful jambalaya. One little thing goes sideways with your gumbo and it's suddenly a wreck.

 

[Minnesota!]

It's not a favorite...generally don't like rice based dishes. And, it always tastes greasy to me because of the sausage.

However, I had some andouille to use up last week, leftover from our shrimp boil, so I made jambalaya for the other people in my house and they liked it.

 

[Skywalker3]

Grew up in South Louisiana and had it a few times a month. Love, love , love good jambalaya. Almost always shrimp if Mama made it, or sometimes sausage. She was not from Louisiana, but an Incredible cook. Moved to LA in the 60s and learned the recipes. I have not made it in a long time, but we were just talking bout wanting some. I also Love chicken and sausage together. And I always make brown jambalaya, not red. Red is ok, but Not preferable. Have never tried making it from a box or packet or anything like that. Can hear Newman on Seinfeld saying ‘jambalaya! ‘ now craving some .

 

[tasha99]

It's what's for dinner at my house tonight, too! I'm using chicken, andouille, and shrimp for the proteins.

 

[Music City Mama]

Timely poll since I just made it last night. I sometimes make it from scratch, but last night was the Zatarain's mix -- I added both andouille and shrimp.

 

[elgerber]

funny timing, this is what I am making for dinner tonight, from the box

 

[holden]

I make it with chicken and sausage. I like it, but I'm not a huge rice person. I prefer a good gumbo!