Jambalaya

I have been wanting to make jambalaya for ages but it kept getting knocked of my meals plans in favour of other things. However, I am so glad I finally made it, it was delicious. You could pretty much add any meat to this, I think chicken would work well, but I liked the spiciness of the chorizo.

Jambalaya (from Amazing Grains by Ghillie James)
(Serves 4-6)

2 tbsp oil
175g cooking chorizo, cut into chunks
275g ham, cut into chunks
1 onion, peeled
5 whole cloves
2 sicks celery, finely sliced
1/2 heaped tsp dried oregano
1 tsp thyme leaves
1/2 green pepper and 1/2 red pepper, cut into chunks
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2-3 pinches cayenne pepper
350g long grain rice
1 1/2 tbsp tomato puree
2 bay leaves
125ml white wine
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
700ml chicken stock
200g cooked, peeled prawns
handful chopped parsley

Heat half the oil in a large saucepan or frying pan and add the chunks of chorizo and brown for 3-4 mins over a high heat. Add the ham and fry for a further 2 mins. Transfer to a plate.

Cut the onion into quarters. Keep one quarter with the end intact so that it doesn't break up. Use this quarter as a pin cushion for the cloves. Chop the remainder of the onion.

Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the chopped and clove spiked onion, celery oregano and thyme for 6 mins or until soft. Add the peppers and fry for 2 mins before adding the garlic, cayenne pepper and rice. Toss over the heat then add the tomato puree and stir. Add the bay leaves, pour in the wine and simmer until the wine has evaporated, stirring over the heat.

Add the tinned tomatoes and stock, then return the ham and sausage to the pan. Stir, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for about 15 mins or until half the liquid has evaporated and the rice is cooked. Add the prawns and stir, cook for 2 mins. turn off the heat, take out the clove spiked onion and the bay leaves and discard. Rest the rice for 5 mins, stir in the parsley and serve.