Voodoo Jambalaya - Ready for more Mayhem?

How convenient is it that we happen to have a Friday the 13th in our month of Mayhem?  Sounds like a great opportunity to talk about superstitions to me, and why not put together a great recipe along the way.  What better way to do that than Voodoo Jambalaya? 

1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
1 – 1.25 lbs. chicken, diced
1 green bell pepper
1 medium onion
3 stalks of celery
3 cloves of garlic
1 14oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15oz. can kidney beans
1 4oz. can chopped green chilies
1 cup uncooked rice

The first thing you want to do is measure your spices and stir them together.  Be careful here.  Trouble is indicted by the accidental omission of spices from a recipe (oh dear) or by the spilling of salt. Set those aside, and start on the veggies.  Dice up the bell pepper, onion, and celery, also known as ‘the trinity’. 

You can mince your garlic now, as well, but keep it separate from the other stuff.  I was lazy and bought already diced chicken breast, but if you need to dice yours, just cut it into bite sized cubes. 

Heat your pan over medium heat and add a tablespoon or so of vegetable or olive oil.  Throw in your chicken and brown it on all sides. 

Since we’re on the subject of chicken, did you know one must not eat chicken or turkey on the first day of the year lest, like the birds in question, diners fate themselves to scratch in the dirt all year for their dinner?  There are many superstitions about eating chicken on the first day of the year, and most of them basically say that you will be poverty stricken or at least take steps back instead of forward.  Who knew eating chicken could be so detrimental? 

Ok, back to cooking.  Once the chicken is browned, it doesn’t need to be cooked all the way through, remove it from the pan.  This is why we sear the chicken first.  These brown bits bring a lot of flavor to the party. 

Add the trinity to the hot pan and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. 

Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes and then add your garlic.  Continue to stir and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes, or until everything is softened.  Sprinkle on your spice mixture. 

Stir it around for about 45 seconds before adding the tomatoes.  Stir them in, scraping the bits from the bottom of the pan.  Drain and rinse the kidney beans then add them to the pan with the green chilies and the chicken. 

Speaking of beans, did you know eating beans on the first day of the year will bring luck and prosperity?  Ok, so chicken bad… beans good.  Got that? 

I wonder if that applies to chicken stock?  Oh well, it’s May.  Go ahead and pour in the chicken stock and stir. 

Bring the whole thing to a boil and stir in the rice, then cover and reduce the heat to low for 25 minutes, or until the rice is nice and tender.  Stir it occasionally during that time so it doesn’t burn on the bottom, but don’t keep the lid off too long. 

I served it with a slice of 3 cheese semolina bread that I picked up from the professionals.  Although, it was once (and perhaps still is) a superstition that if you found a hole in a loaf of bread you cut, it symbolized a coffin and meant that someone was soon to die.

Perhaps I should have skipped the bread?

Well, as dangerous as my Voodoo Jambalaya might sound, it was absolutely fabulous.  I definitely think it’s worth the risk.  

 

Do you have any food traditions based on superstitions?