Hello again and this is the recipe I had mentioned earler and all you have to do is grind the spices for this lovely dish as you see here. It is not jollof rice and I think jambalaya has an African relitive. Because it looks oddly similar but it is made quite differently. First make the Creole/ Cajun Seasoning as you see on the link on your right.
This is a perfect dish for when you want something that tastes good for any occation. I had added 1/4 cup of olive oil to a pot. I would then add either 1 onion or 1 shallot cut in half moon slices or 5 green onions chopped and add them to the pot. I turn it on to high heat and cook until the onion or shallot is brown. I add 1 clove of garlic that I would chop. I add 1 bay leaf whole. I would aslo add 1 pinch each of thyme, oregano and paprika. I added 1 bullion cube and 3 dashes of maggi or knorr aroma.
In a mortar and pestle I would add 1 pinch each of celery seeds, black peppercorns corns and grind them in to a powder. I add this with my creole/ cajun seasoning that I had made before I started making this dish. The link is up above if you want to make it yourself or buy one that is already made from the store. I would add 1 tomato that I had chopped and cooked down til it was mushy.
I added 1 tbs of tomato paste, my frozen veggies of choice (optional), 1 lb or 1 kilo of shrimp that I had peeled and cleaned that I set aside before I started cooking. I had 1 package of zabiha halal sausages, in this case it was chicken but you can even use 1/2 package of hotdogs too since they are a type of sausage also. Even zabiha halal beef hotlinks or smoked sausages will work too. Theese are cut in to small slices. Add either 1 drop of hot pepper sauce, 1 pinch of red chili powder or 1 chili of choice (optional).
My optional veggie of choice was peas but you can even add okra, carrots, corn or even mixed vegetables are great too. Also I would add 2 big bell peppers of a different color or 7 mini sweet peppers that I have chopped up and added. I turn the heat to low and add 1 cup of water.
I added 3 cups of rice that I washed until the water was clear. I added this to the pot. As you can see I have used basmati rice but if you want you can use any type of rice for this dish. I added 1 liter or 1 quart of water turned the heat back up to high until it came to a boil. I took some aluminium foil on the under side of the lid.
This makes a tight seal keeping the steam in allowing the rice to cook nicely. Turn down the heat to a low simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Occasionally keep an eye on it and stir it a little. If you see that their is a tiny bit of water in the rice at the end of cooking time, do not panic. Turn off the heat and let it sit for 20 minutes. The rice is perfect then and there is no more water left.
Just so you know that this was a delicious meal. Enjoy!!!!
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