A1 Ultimate Jambalaya

Ingredients

• 6 chicken thighs
• 100-150 g chorizo sausage or other spicy sausage
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups rice (preferably basmati)
• 0 shrimp or 200-300 g prawns
• 1 good quality chicken stock cube
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 50 g butter

• 1/2 (14 ounce) can tomatoes (approx 200g)
• 3 roasted peppers from a jars
• 1 cup water
• Tabasco sauce or other hot pepper sauce, to serve

Directions

1. 1

   Heat a little oil in a frying pan and brown the chicken skin side down on a high heat. Transfer to a large pan leaving the oil in the frying pan. Do the same with the chorizo sausage and keep the oil in the frying pan. You only want to brown and not cook the meat as it will cook further later on.

2. 2

   Next fry the onions and peppers on a medium heat for 5 minutes or so until softened and just starting to colour. Now add the garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, bay leaves and thyme to the pan and fry for 2 mins stirring all the time and making sure nothing burns. Turn the heat down if necessary. Add everything to the large pan with the chicken.

3. 3

   Add the rice, shrimp, sugar, stock cube and butter to the large pan.

4. 4

   In a blender put the roasted red peppers, tomatoes and water together and blend until smooth.

5. 5

   Measure out 3 cups of this liquid (you may need to add more water) and add to the large pan. Bring everything to the boil.

6. 6

   Now transfer to a large glass microwavable bowl. Seal tightly with cling wrap and microwave on high for 15 - 20 minutes depending on your microwave. If it looks like the rice is still wet, microwave again for 5 more minutes or until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid.

7. 7

   Leave to stand for at least another 20 minutes but will keep warm for longer than an hour.

8. 8

   Best served warm not too hot, with plenty of Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce.