What is the best rice to use for jambalaya?

One of the biggest complaints when making jambalaya is that the rice ends up mushy. And there's two main culprits of this – choosing the wrong type of rice and over-stirring. For this recipe, you want long-grain white rice, like basmati or jasmine . Don't use short-grain rice.

Does authentic jambalaya have a roux?

Most jambalaya recipes don't call for thickeners like roux or okra , though some people use cornstarch as a thickener if the dish needs it. Most of all, the role of rice distinguishes gumbo and jambalaya. You serve rice in gumbo, but the rice cooks in a separate pot.

What is the ratio of liquid to rice in jambalaya?

All you need to do is add enough chicken stock to the tomato juices to give you twice the volume of the rice. In my recipe, I call for two cups of long-grain rice. That means you need a total of four cups of liquid —whatever you get from the tomatoes, plus however much chicken stock you need to make up the difference.

Should jambalaya be wet or dry?

A cajun jambalaya, I'm reliably informed, should be somewhat dry , even slightly browned on the bottom, which rules out the soupier, wetter texture of those creole versions using tomatoes (Oliver advises cooks to aim for a “porridgey” consistency).

Whole30 Jambalaya Recipe (2024)

Having a Whole30 jambalaya recipe in your recipe box means never missing out on these amazing traditional Louisiana flavors. Make a few small changes and enjoy this southern comfort food while maintaining your diet.

Jambalaya’s combination of meat and shrimp cooked with vegetables is a delicious and nutritious way to eat this comfort food. Southern jambalaya can be made is under 30 minutes if you follow my recipe. Plus, it’s Whole30 friendly and keto and low-carb approved. You cook everything in just one pot so clean up is a breeze.

How to turn traditional jambalaya into a Whole30 jambalaya recipe

With just a few simple changes, you can turn a traditional jambalaya recipe into something that is delicious and fits into your Whole30 lifestyle. Traditional jambalaya starts with either chicken or smoked sausage with celery, peppers and onions. This combination of vegetables is known in culinary terms as a holy trinity. Next, seafood is added.

Creole jambalaya has tomatoes while cajun style does not. I use tomatoes in mine. The only major difference is that you don’t use rice on Whole30. But cauliflower rice is an easy and delicious substitute.

What sausage can you eat on Whole30?

You need to watch the ingredients when choosing a sausage that is Whole30 compliant. Check the ingredient label for additives, being sure to avoid anything with sugar, nitrates, MSG or other additives. A compliant sausage can be difficult to find, but using clean sausage makes your jambalaya taste amazing. Got extra sausages? Try my Sausage Asparagus Quinoa Pasta!

How do you rice cauliflower?

The easiest way to make this Whole30 jambalaya recipe is with frozen riced cauliflower. It’s easy to find in any grocery store thanks to the demand for low-carb food options. In fact, frozen works best in this recipe!

However, if you want to make your own, you can run a head of cauliflower through a food processor. This is an easy ingredient to prepare in advance and freeze because it keeps well for long periods of time.

One of the reasons this dish is so quick to make is because you don’t have to wait for the rice to cook. Cauliflower rice just needs to be heated while regular rice needs to absorb all the liquid to make it fluffy.

What is cajun seasoning?

Cajun seasoning is easy to find in the store. But if you decide you love the flavor and want to use it on more than jambalaya, you can always make your own. It’s the combination of:

Garlic powder
Onion powder
Seasoning salt
Oregano
Thyme
Chili flakes
Black pepper
Cayenne
Paprika

Got extra cajun seasoning? Try my Cajun Grilled Chicken with Black Bean Mango Salad, Cajun Salmon with Strawberry Salsa, and Cajun Shrimp Skewers with Corn Salad. They’re so easy to make and are a great way to use up any extra cajun seasoning you’ve got.

What’s good with this Whole30 jambalaya recipe?

This dish is pretty filling by itself with its combination of meat and veggies. If you want a side dish that is also Whole30 compliant try some of these:

Chard
Okra
Collard greens
Cole slaw

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