Not-so-sinful Jambalaya

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 large green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 3 tablespoons fresh italian parsley, minced
• 4 ounces extra-lean smoked ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 5 ounces diced boneless skinless chicken breasts (optional)
• 5 ounces andouille sausages, sliced
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice, uncooked
• 1 1/2 lbs medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped into bite-sized pieces

Recipe

• 1 add oil to a large nonstick saucepan.
• 2 sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery until onion is translucent.
• 3 add parsley, ham, sausage (or chicken), bay leaf, and cayenne pepper.
• 4 cook, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes.
• 5 add tomatoes (with juice), tomato sauce, and 1 3/4 cups cold water.
• 6 gently simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• 7 pour rice into the pan and stir well.
• 8 bring mixture to a boil.
• 9 lower heat and simmer, covered, 45 minutes or until rice is cooked and absorbs most of the liquid.
• 10 stir in shrimp and cook 5 minutes more.
• 11 remove bay leaf.
• 12 season to taste with cayenne pepper and salt.