Vegan Jambalaya Recipe | The Mad Scientists Kitchen (2024)

Vegan Jambalaya is a delicious easy one-pot dish is full of Cajun flavours.

Jambalaya is traditionally made with rice, meats, shrimp, crawfish and sausages, vegetables, stock and seasoning. Since I do not cook meats this Jambalaya is not authentic but the flavours are really amazing. I have used kidney beans also called Rajma and mushrooms give umami flavours and as a substitute for the meats. Making variations in everyday food can be a lot difficult. Do you have the same problems as me? Do you have also face the same questions what new and different are you making?Read on and I will share with you and easy way to make a Vegan Jambalaya, a one-pot meal you will love plus it is healthy. Spread the love, like and share my post. Sign up for my newsletter! (link below).

Contents:

• The Event
• Ingredients you need to make Vegan Jambalaya Recipe
• How to make "Jumbled" or "Mixed up" Recipe
• Recipe Card
• Pro tips to make Easy Vegan Jambalaya
• Some dishes to go with Vegan Jambalaya
• Pin for Later

The Event:

Today for Foodie Monday Bloghop, this is #227 One-Pot Wonder cook whatever you wish but in a single pot. These crazy times I have fallen back on my new pot wonders a bit too often. So why not record it? I will do it only if I am part of some challenge so when it was my turn to suggest a theme I grabbed it.

How does one make Jambalaya?

Jambalaya is also called "Jumbled" or "Mixed up" from Louisiana is similar but different from other rice dishes in the area. Jambalaya may be adapted from the Mediterranean cuisines ofFranceorSpain. There are 2 basic methods of making jambalaya you use tomatoes or don’t use them.

• In Creole jambalaya or "red jambalaya” tomatoes are used. The dish may be baked too toward the end.
• IsCajunjambalaya, there are no tomatoes added to the dish.

But the basic methodology of cooking Jambalaya is sautéing and browning meat and vegetables. Rice generally long-grained rice, (basmati is perfect), seasonings andbrothare added and the entire dish is cooked together until the rice is done. (This reminds me of pulao/ khichidi that we make regularly only we rarely brown the veggies.)

The vegetables also called the Holy Trinity in Cajun cuisine are a mixture of onion, celery and green capsicum/bell pepper that is stir-fried. However, other vegetables such as okra (not commonly used), carrots, tomatoes, chilis and garlic used.

In Louisiana, at home, you enjoy a simpler jambalaya that is similar to the Cajun style, without vegetables.

What is the difference between Jambalaya and Gumbo and Étouffée?

Jambalaya is differentiated from gumbo and étouffée by the way in which the rice is included. Both gumbo and Étouffée are considered as difficult to master.

• In the usual method of preparing jambalaya, a rich stock is created from vegetables, meat, and seafood; raw rice is then added to the broth and the flavour is absorbed by the grains as the rice cooks.
• While Gumboalso uses sausages, meats, seafood, vegetable includes okra and is seasoned with Filé powder. Also called gumbo filé,this is aspicyherbmade from the dried and ground leaves of the North Americansassafrastree. Gumbo is a thick gravy that is served over white rice.
• Étouffée is a stew the main ingredient is shellfish like shrimp or crayfish, but no sausage is used. Like gumbo, étouffée is usually served over separately prepared rice.

What is the difference between Cajun and Creole Jambalaya?

In modern Louisiana, Creole jambalaya, or Red jambalaya which includes tomatoes is popular. Whereas Cajun jambalaya "brown jambalaya" is smoky and spicy flavour than its Creole cousin you do not add tomatoes.

Do you cook rice before adding to Jambalaya?

Traditional Jambalaya the rice is added to the broth, meats, veggies and seasoning. This makes it extremely flavourful. What you are talking about is another dish called the White Jambalaya. To make white Jambalaya the rice is cooked separately in a savoury stock. Similarly, the vegetable and meats are cooked separately and mixed when serving. This quick dish is considered as what is made outside the state of Louisiana.

Is there a difference between between Paella and Jambalaya?

Jambalaya has evolved from an attempt by the Spanish to make Paella. Tomatoes were used to replace saffron and as the French influence grew along with the spices from theCaribbean the dish evolved to its present-day avatar.

Jambalaya is strongly spiced with Creole/Cajunflavours of onion, cumin, celery, bell pepper, cayenne pepper and thyme.Paellais more subtle and has a Mediterraneanflavourprofile thanks to lemon, paprika, saffron and olives.

My recipe is copied from this recipe here.

Ingredients you need to make Vegan Jambalaya Recipe:

• Rice: Long-grained Basmati rice is ideal to make Jambalaya. Wash and drain the rice.
• Vegetables: The Holy Trinity onion I used the spring onions whites, celery, and green bell pepper chopped fine.
  • Sliced onions,
  • Mushrooms I have chopped fine,
  • carrots, baby corn, in long batons,
  • and tomatoes I used chopped tomatoes and cherry tomatoes whole. Will recommend making halves of the cherry tomatoes,
  • spring onions greens.
• Kidney Bean: Rinse and soak the beans overnight and pressure cook them with a little salt for 4-5 whistles.
• Spices and Herbs: Smoked paprika, garlic, tomato purée
  • Chipotle paste: chipotlechillies,jalapeño chillies, onion, garlic, tomato purée, vinegar, spices, dried herbs and sugar. Crush in the chutney pot of your blender.
  • Cajun seasoning: paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper and oregano.
• Other ingredients: Olive oil, cashew nuts, red wine vinegar, sugar.

How to make "Jumbled" or "Mixed up" Recipe:

• In a deep pan fry the cashew nuts till golden brown. Drain and fry the carrots and the corn in the same pan. Fry the onions and celery till soft.
• Fry the garlic and the capsicum, sliced onion. Add the mushrooms cook well.
• Then add the Cajun seasoning and the Chipotle paste, sugar. Fry the cherry tomatoes too.
• Add the kidney beans, rice stock, vinegar and mix well.
• I do not like to cover my rice when it cooks had too many failures with the rice boiling over. I let the water or stock to boil down till the level of the rice. Give a quick mix gently. Cover and cook till the rice is cooked thoroughly and all the water is absorbed.
• Once the rice is done slice add the sliced corn and carrots. Mix and serve garnished with spring onions and cashew nuts.

Recipe Card:

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Pro tips to make Easy Vegan Jambalaya:

• Like any other rice dish cook Jambalaya on low heat. Mix the rice well once, just once and do not get tempted to stir the rice again. Just fluff if you wish with a fork gently. See to it that you do not break the grains half the reason why rice turns mushy.
• To make Jambalaya less spicy the best thing would be to go easy on cayenne pepper or red chilli. But then use sour and acidic stuff like lemon, vinegar, wine, tomatoes.
• You can use more protein in the form of tofu or paneer. But then it will not be Vegan once you use Paneer.
• Cool the Jambalaya completely before you freeze any leftovers. However, reheat before serving.

Will I try making Vegan Jambalaya yet again? Of course, I will it is certainly delicious I will avoid reduce the vinegar in the rice. I feel it is acidic enough with all the tomatoes. And will make a bigger batch after all we all loved it.

Some dishes to go with Vegan Jambalaya:

• Horiatiki Salad, a Rustic Salad,
• Delicious Greek Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette Dressing,
• Crust-less Cauliflower and Mushroom Quiche,
• Eggless Quiche,
• Serradura, Sawdust Pudding, Macau Pudding.

Pin for Later: