Mardi Gras Recipe: Spicy Seafood Jambalaya

This recipe is absolutely Mardi Gras and New Orleans inspired and one of my favorites to make. When I first started making it and toying with it to make it my own I combined my love of hot and spicy Cajun food with my love absolute love of seafood. This Spicy Seafood Jambalaya is pretty easy to make, the time will be with preparation and this recipe could easily feed 4 people. I hope you will enjoy making Mardi Gras inspired Jambalaya this as much as I do and make this part of you Mardi Gras celebration this year.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 whole White Onion chopped
1 whole Red Bell Pepper
1 whole Green Bell Pepper
2 Jalapeno Chilies chopped
2 whole cloves of Garlic chopped
1 pinch dried thyme
1 tsp paprika powder
1/2 cup Coriander Leaves
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 whole can chopped Tomatoes
1 pound medium Shrimp peeled and deveined (you can keep the tails or not if you want)
1 pound Mussels scrubbed with the beards removed
1/2 pound Scallops
Salt and Pepper for taste
2 1/2 cups long grain rice

Cooking Directions

First heat the olive oil in a large flame proof pan with a lid.

Next, saute the onion, bell peppers, jalapeno chilies and garlic for 5 minutes or until soft. Once the onion starts to brown move to the next step.

Stir in the thyme, paprika Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper.

Cook all of this together for 2 minutes stirring and mixing constantly before adding the rice.

Next, add the can of tomatoes and bring ingredients to a boil for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed.

Add the shrimps, mussels and scallops towards the end so they don't become dried out and leathery.

Cook with the pan covered for another 3 minutes or until the seafood is cooked completely through and the mussels have opened. Discard any that have not opened.

Stir in the coriander, salt and pepper last for taste and serve immediately.