Why Jambalaya is a Popular Southern Dish

Jambalaya is a Creole dish that has roots in Spanish and French cuisine. It is one of the most versatile dishes that the south has to offer. So what exactly is this delicious and amazing dish from the Creole/ Cajun family of southern dishes?

There is much speculation as to the origin of the name of this popular dish. Some believe the term comes from the French word "jambon" meaning ham and the French article "a la" which means in the style of and "ya" which is a West African word meaning rice. But the problem with this theory is that this Cajun/Creole dish does not contain ham. The Oxford English Dictionary says that the word comes from the word "jambalaia" which means a mish mash or a mix-up. It can also mean a pilau of rice. This origin makes more sense as you will find out when you continue to read this article.

Jambalaya is a dish that is traditionally made in one pot. Meats and vegetables are combined with stock and rice. There are two common methods of making this dish. The Creole method and the Cajun method.  Both recipes are great. The Creole recipes are called the red variety. Meat is added first. This will usually be chicken and sausage. Next, vegetables and tomatoes are added and then seafood. Finally, rice and stock are added. This mixture is brought to a boil. It is then allowed to simmer for about sixty minutes. Stirring takes place very infrequently and towards the very end of the cooking process the stirring stops altogether.

The Cajun recipes are more characteristic of southwestern and south central Louisiana. This kind contains no tomatoes. The unique twist on this is that the meat is browned in a cast iron pot. Once the bits of meat stick to the bottom of the pot a characteristic brown color is achieved. Now the trinity of Cajun cooking is added. This is a mixture of onions, bell peppers and celery. After that, stock, seasonings and the meat are returned to the pot to boil. Rice is added last and the mixture will simmer. The mixture is finished when the rice is fully cooked. So there you have it. If you've always wanted to try Cajun cooking don't forget to try this popular dish. It will become a fast favorite and it is a great dish to serve to the entire family.