Gumba-what?

If you can’t decide between gumbo or jambalaya for Mardi Gras (this year on March 4th), go for gumbalaya, a combination of both.

 
And gumbalaya (photo #1)?

After the widespread popularity of the cronut, Chef Mike Valentine of Ford’s Oyster House in Greenville, South Carolina thought it would be fun to create a mash-up of the two Cajun classics (photo #1).
 
 
RECIPE #1: FORD’S GUMBALAYA

Ingredients For 6 Servings

 
Plus

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Place chicken in a roasting pan and cook for 20 minutes. Let it stand for five minutes after taking it out of the oven, then cut into half inch pieces.

2. COOK andouille sausage in the oven for 8 minutes at 350°F. Let it stand for 5 minutes.

3. PLACE butter and flour in large saucepan. Turn on medium heat and cook while stirring constantly, until it becomes a light chocolate color. ADD green peppers, celery, onion, chicken, andouille sausage and bay leaves.

4. ADD chicken stock, stirring constantly so the roux fully incorporates with the stock.

5. ADD black pepper, cayenne pepper, Creole seasoning, hot sauce, oregano and thyme. Let the gumbo cook for 15 minutes. Add salt as needed.
 
 
RECIPE #2: JAMBALAYA SAUCE

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PLACE olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add celery, onion and bell pepper and cook for 5-6 minutes.

2. ADD garlic, fresh thyme, oregano, cayenne, Creole seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and hot sauce. Lastly, add the marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. Salt to taste.

3. ADD cooked rice to jambalaya sauce; combine thoroughly.

4. SERVE the gumbo in bowl with a heaping scoop of jambalaya/rice mixture and a side of toasted French bread. Option: Garnish with a sprinkle of cayenne and thyme (see photo #1).

[1] Ford’s Gumbalaya recipe combines the best of gumbo and jambalaya (photo © Ford’s Oyster House | Greenville, South Carolina [now closed]).

[2] A classic Louisiana gumbo (photo © Mackenzie Ltd).

[3] Jambalaya. Here’s the recipe from Gimme Some Oven (photo © Gimme Some Oven).

[4] Andouille sausage from D’Artagnan (photo © D’Artagnan).

[5] Cooked and sliced andouille sausage (photo Wikipedia).

*You can buy or make your own Creole seasoning. Here’s Emeril Lagasse’s version, which makes about 2/3 cup: Thoroughly blend 2-1/2 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon dried oregano and 1 tablespoon dried thyme. Store in an airtight container away from light. Use within three months.

†FOOD TRIVIA: Andouille, pronounced on-DWEE, is a spicy smoked sausage made with pork and garlic. The word is French, from the Old French andoille. Andoille dervies from the Medieval Latin inductilia, things to be introduced, from the Latin inductus, past participle of indUcere, “to introduce into a casing.” Whew!