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Below are links to 56 side dishes for your Jambalaya dinner. We've released this list as a companion to Dutch Oven Jambalaya from Paul Prudhomme, which was shared by John and Rebekah Leekly in The Storied Recipe Episode 41: Time in the Kitchen: What We Will Remember Always .
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- How to use this list:
- Appetizers
- Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese (Without Cream Cheese)
- Fried Plantain Cups (Plus Lots of Fun & Easy Filling Ideas!)
- Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe - Tastes Better From Scratch
- Breads
- Easy Homemade French Bread
- Southern Cornbread Recipe
- Southern Hush Puppies Recipe | I Heart Recipes
- Cheddar Biscuits (Like Red Lobster) - Sally's Baking Addiction
- The Best Yeast Rolls
- How to Make Savory Crepes at Home – Erica's Recipes – easy crepe recipe
- Ham and Cheese Biscuits
- Mini Bread Rolls (Soft, Adorable Dinner Rolls) - The Storied Recipe
- Beans
- The BEST Red Beans and Rice Recipe!
- White Beans and Ham | First...you have a beer
- Creole Black Beans & Sausage
- Southern Black Eyed Peas w/ Bacon
- Southern Butter Beans with Bacon
- Vegetables
- Cajun Corn Maque Choux
- How To Make Collard Greens: Southern Collard Greens 101
- Coconut Corn on the Cob Boiled in Milk with Spicy Butter - The Storied Recipe
- Fried Okra Recipe
- Cajun Smothered Green Beans | First...you have a beer
- Fried Zucchini Chips
- Roasted Garlic Creole Asparagus - Cooking with a Wallflower
- Stuffed Bell Peppers | First...You Have a Beer
- Best Fried Green Tomatoes (Perfect Every Time)
- The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life!
- Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
- Salads
- Zesty Louisiana Creole Coleslaw
- Kilt Lettuce Appalachian Salad - The Storied Recipe
- 5-Minute Creole Tomato Salad
- Carrot Salad
- Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad
- Spicy Cajun Potato Salad
- Recipe for Louisiana Sunburst Salad
- Watermelon Salad with Feta - Love and Lemons
- Carbs
- Creamy Southern Stone-Ground Grits Recipe
- Southern Scalloped Potatoes
- The Best Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Seafood and Meats
- Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
- Louisiana Crawfish Pie
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Recipe
- Louisiana Fried Catfish Recipe
- Crawfish Etouffee Recipe [VIDEO] | The Cagle Diaries
- Best Cajun Fried Chicken: So Crispy!
- Cajun Boudin is a delicacy in Cajun country and an easy recipe to make.
- Crawfish Pistolettes
- Desserts
- Cafe Du Monde Beignets Recipe
- Easy Beignet Recipe NO YEAST from the French Countryside
- The BEST Bananas Foster
- Vegan Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie
- New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce - Kenneth Temple
- Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie (with Condensed Milk) - The Storied Recipe
- Easy Old-Fashioned Moist Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe - The Storied Recipe
- Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes Recipe - The Storied Recipe
- Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon (Candied Bacon) in the Oven - The Storied Recipe
- Drinks
- Classic Sazerac Cocktail Recipe - Tasting Table
- New Orleans Hurricane Cocktail
- Mint Julep a la Dabney
- Southern Iced Sweet Tea
- FAQ
- 59 Side Dishes for Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a hearty dish with rich flavors that originates from southern Louisiana and reflects the unique and diverse culinary history housed there. This robust one-pot rice dish typically combines chicken, pork (often andouille sausage), seafood, and a variety of vegetables, all seasoned with a blend of spices that draw inspiration from either Cajun or Creole culinary styles (see the Q&A at the bottom for more on this).
Its roots are a combination of French, Spanish, African, and Native American cultures, however, pinning down the exact origin is quite elusive. One theory speculates that when the Spanish controlled New Orleans in the 18th century, settlers tried to make paella but didn't have some of the key ingredients, so instead they used local ingredients to create something similar. Another is that Jambalaya is a spin-off of Jolloff Rice, a popular West African one-pot rice and tomato dish. Regardless of its precise origins, this beloved dish is perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations, a dinner party, or simply because you can't get enough of it.
How to use this list:
- Jambalaya is a southern Louisiana dish therefore I have tried to include mostly New Orleans-style recipes, however, some recipes are Southern recipes that aren't necessarily specific to that region.
- Lots of Q&A below!
- Would love to hear if this helped you or if you have any suggestions! Always learning over here at The Storied Recipe!
- So you know where I'm headed as I start listing recipes, the set of categories includes Appetizers, Breads, Beans, Veggies, Southern Salads, Carbs and Starches, Seafood and Meats, Desserts, and Drinks.
Appetizers
These appetizers, including the classic Southern side dish, deviled eggs, are just a few options you might offer at a gathering. Elevate them with a garnish of green onions or fresh dill, adding both flavor and visual appeal to your spread.
Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese (Without Cream Cheese)
Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese - a creamy, spicy, cheesey Southern classic from a Southern Grandma, my podcast guest Brenda Wyatt! Uses mayonnaise rather than cream cheese.
Fried Plantain Cups (Plus Lots of Fun & Easy Filling Ideas!)
These fried plantain cups are a delicious, fun Haitian appetizer, perfect for a Caribbean party. Lots of filling options too!
Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe - Tastes Better From Scratch
The best Deviled Eggs recipe is a total classic, made with simple ingredients including pickle relish, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Breads
Pairing breads like cornbread, Italian bread, and hush puppies with Jambalaya serves as the perfect addition to this rich and hearty dish. Baking a batch of cornbread in a cast iron skillet, for instance, not only enhances its flavor but also pays homage to traditional Southern cooking techniques, complementing the Jambalaya's robust taste profile beautifully.
Easy Homemade French Bread
Homemade French bread has never been easier! This simple recipe produces a light and fluffy loaf of French bread that will rival any bakery!
Southern Cornbread Recipe
This Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe combines simple yellow cornmeal and buttermilk, bringing out the naturally sweet flavor of corn - without adding sugar. Cooked in a cast iron skillet with bacon drippings – it will please even the toughest critics.
Southern Hush Puppies Recipe | I Heart Recipes
Making homemade hush puppies? My Southern hush puppies are light, fluffy, savory bites of deep-fried perfection, best with fried fish or Southern classics.
Cheddar Biscuits (Like Red Lobster) - Sally's Baking Addiction
Soft, flaky, and flavorful, these cheddar biscuits are just like Red Lobster's, and practically fly off the table anytime they're served.
The Best Yeast Rolls
These are the best Yeast Rolls and they turn out perfect every time. With just the right amount of sweetness, these homemade rolls taste heavenly slathered with butter.
How to Make Savory Crepes at Home – Erica's Recipes – easy crepe recipe
Savory crepes are delicate, versatile, and delicious! This easy crepe recipe requires no special equipment so you can get creative and enjoy crepes anytime.
Ham and Cheese Biscuits
These Ham and Cheese Biscuits are filled with colby jack cheese and smoky ham. They’re a spectacular way to amp up the flavor of classic biscuits, with mouthwatering ham and cheese flavors in every bite. Ingredients to Make Ham and Cheese Biscuits Recipe When it comes to biscuits at our house, there’s simply no wrong...
Mini Bread Rolls (Soft, Adorable Dinner Rolls) - The Storied Recipe
Soft mini bread rolls are enriched with potatoes for a hearty flavor, creamy texture, and subtle sweetness. The most adorable mini dinner rolls!!
Beans
This category showcases different ways to cook beans to create delicious sides to enhance your main course. White beans and ham, a traditional Southern dish, presents a perfect pairing with Jambalaya and enriches the meal's flavor profile.
The BEST Red Beans and Rice Recipe!
This BEST Red Beans and Rice Recipe is the Ultimate Cajun Favorite done right! Flavorful spicy kidney beans are served over white rice for the perfect Southern creole recipe. Better than Popeye's!
White Beans and Ham | First...you have a beer
Step by step instructions for making iconic South Louisiana White Beans and Ham served over rice. Navy Beans simmered with smoked ham and Cajun seasonings.
Creole Black Beans & Sausage
- Creole Black Beans & Sausage
Southern Black Eyed Peas w/ Bacon
*TRIED & TRUE* Southern blacked peas recipe! Simmered in chicken broth and full of smoked bacon, onions, and garlic!
Southern Butter Beans with Bacon
Perfect for Thanksgiving or a typical Sunday supper, these Southern Butter Beans with Bacon will be a star side dish packed with bacon flavor and easy to make!
Vegetables
Serving vegetables as a side dish to Jambalaya is a great idea for creating a well-rounded, complete meal that complements its hearty flavors. Corn maque choux, pronounced "mahk shoo" or "mock-shoe", is a Native American dish and was adapted by Louisianna setters, and features basic ingredients such as sweet corn, red and green bell peppers, onion, and heavy cream, which blends their flavors for a delightful and colorful side dish.
Cajun Corn Maque Choux
Maque Choux is a classic Cajun recipe of corn and peppers sautéed in bacon grease until softened and spiced with a blend of Cajun seasonings. It’s an outstanding Southern side dish.
How To Make Collard Greens: Southern Collard Greens 101
Collard greens recipe loaded with SOUL! Cooked in chicken broth and so easy to make. Complete tutorial on how to prepare collard greens.
Coconut Corn on the Cob Boiled in Milk with Spicy Butter - The Storied Recipe
This coconut milk corn on the cob recipe infuses every kernel with flavor from the beginning by boiling the corn in coconut milk, thyme and scallions.
Fried Okra Recipe
Southern Fried Okra Recipe - The fresh okra fries to a beautiful golden brown color with a crunchy texture! This is one of the best okra recipes around!!!
Cajun Smothered Green Beans | First...you have a beer
Step-by-step with photos to make Cajun-style Smothered Green Beans with Potatoes, ham, bacon, onions, garlic, and spices in a rich stock.
Fried Zucchini Chips
Fried Zucchini Chips are coated in Panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese and fry up super crispy. Dip them in Ranch dressing for a delicious summer appetizer.
Roasted Garlic Creole Asparagus - Cooking with a Wallflower
Tender asparagus tossed with creole seasoning, roasted with minced garlic, and topped with sliced almonds. This roasted garlic creole asparagus is delicious
Stuffed Bell Peppers | First...You Have a Beer
Stuffed Bell Peppers! Beef, pork and veal smothered with sweet onions, peppers and seasonings, a prime example of South Louisiana home-cooking. rn
Best Fried Green Tomatoes (Perfect Every Time)
Best fried green tomatoes recipe ever! Simple and easy Southern fried green tomatoes can be air fryer fried! How to reheat, freeze and store.
The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life!
With only 4 ingredients and some seasoning, this recipe for garlic Parmesan roasted Brussels Sprouts will really be The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life!
Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
Swiss chard makes for the best sautéed vegetable side dish. It's quick, easy, and tastes delicious with fresh garlic!
Salads
Enhance your meal with a fresh green salad, such as the Kilt Lettuce Appalachian Salad recommended by my podcast guest Lauren, or opt for a Southern-style cucumber salad that highlights sweet tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers, all brought together with a tangy dressing.
Zesty Louisiana Creole Coleslaw
The crunch you crave with the right amount of spice.
Kilt Lettuce Appalachian Salad - The Storied Recipe
Fresh varieties of lettuce are topped with a delicious dressing of bacon fat and vinegar - watch out for the popping when the grease "kills" the lettuce!
5-Minute Creole Tomato Salad
Paired with a simple dressing, it's the perfect summer side!
Carrot Salad
This classic Carrot Salad recipe is just like the one at Chick-fil-A. Raisins, freshly grated carrots, pineapple tidbits and dressing!
Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad
Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad is the perfect summer salad. It's both sweet and tangy and the fresh crispness of the cucumbers can't be beat.
Spicy Cajun Potato Salad
This Cajun Potato Salad is creamy, spicy and loaded with so much flavour!
Recipe for Louisiana Sunburst Salad
Louisiana Sunburst Salad. A beautiful salad made famous by the Palace Cafe in New Orleans. Special flavors include port poached cranberries.
Watermelon Salad with Feta - Love and Lemons
The best watermelon salad! Creamy avocado, cucumber, tangy feta, and fresh mint pair perfectly with the sweet, juicy melon in this recipe.
Carbs
I've selected a few side dishes that are sure to be crowd-pleasers, all while staying true to their Southern roots.
Creamy Southern Stone-Ground Grits Recipe
Creamy, buttery, stone-ground grits recipe prepared the old-fashioned, Southern way. Simmered in milk and butter and seasoned well.
Southern Scalloped Potatoes
*Tried & True* Creamy & cheesy Southern-style scalloped potatoes. Best recipe I've tried! Made from scratch, easy recipe and full of flavor!
The Best Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
These Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are covered in delicious syrupy goodness and will melt in your mouth with each and every bite. It’s the perfect side dish for every table.
Seafood and Meats
Here is a selection of seafood and meat side dishes inspired by the distinctive culinary style of New Orleans, offering a great way to create something new and delicious.
Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
Grilled Oysters are amazing! This grilled oyster recipe details which types are best for grilling and an easy white wine butter sauce for topping.
Louisiana Crawfish Pie
Each week this fall we'll revisit a recipe from last year's Joy the Baker Magazine with new tips, tricks and insights. The latest issue of my holiday
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Recipe
BBQ Shrimp is a classic New Orleans recipe where shrimp is sautéed in a savory sauce made from butter, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, black pepper, & lemon juice. You don't need a grill, but you'll want some crunchy French bread.
Louisiana Fried Catfish Recipe
Perfect, flaky catfish with flavor.
Crawfish Etouffee Recipe [VIDEO] | The Cagle Diaries
This easy Cajun Crawfish Etouffee recipe is authentically southern, a Cajun tradition - from a recipe handed down generations. Crawfish Etouffee is a classic.
Best Cajun Fried Chicken: So Crispy!
You haven't had crispy fried chicken like this before! It's marinated in seasoned buttermilk, then coated with a cajun seasoned coating, and fried until it's crispy perfection.
Cajun Boudin is a delicacy in Cajun country and an easy recipe to make.
Cajun Boudin is a traditional recipe of South Louisiana culture and features spice, rice, pork, and liver in a steamed sausage casing.
Crawfish Pistolettes
Delicious Cajun Crawfish Pistolettes, filled with tasty seasoned cheesy, creamy crawfish. A southern classic recipe for using up those leftover crawfish tails.
Desserts
Below are two different types of beignet recipes. The first is a copycat of the New Orleans-style beignet, made from yeasted dough, whereas the French beignet recipe from my podcast guest is made without yeast and is lighter and airier than the New Orleans version.
Cafe Du Monde Beignets Recipe
Experience a taste of New Orleans with our copycat Cafe Du Monde beignets recipe! They are pillowy soft, deep fried, and perfectly sweet.
Easy Beignet Recipe NO YEAST from the French Countryside
How to make beignets without yeast, from an authentic French Russeroles Bugnes recipe. When this beignet dough hits the hot oil, it massively expands, resulting in light, crispy, and beautifully golden pastries.
The BEST Bananas Foster
In this Bananas Foster recipe, sliced bananas are coated in a cinnamon caramel, then flambeed in rum and banana liqueur to create the treat of your dreams!
Vegan Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie
You won't believe how delicious this Vegan Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie is, and it is completely plant-based! Top with optional coconut cream!
New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce - Kenneth Temple
My New Orleans Bread Pudding recipe is the best way to transform leftover French bread into a work of culinary art! Unlike most bread pudding recipes, I
Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie (with Condensed Milk) - The Storied Recipe
This old-fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie has a fresh, zesty lemony custard, soft meringue topping, and firm buttery cookie crust.
Easy Old-Fashioned Moist Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe - The Storied Recipe
This easy, old-fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake is rich, buttery, and moist. Magical butter-sugar syrup creates an irresistible crumbly, melt-in-your mouth crust.
Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes Recipe - The Storied Recipe
Southern Tea Cakes are soft, buttery, and crumbly - much more cookie than cake. This recipe is basic and endlessly adaptable.
Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon (Candied Bacon) in the Oven - The Storied Recipe
The title says it all - this is a spicy sweet glazed bacon. Coat the bacon with a rub of brown sugar, spices, and pecans, then cook slowly until candied (caramelized).
Drinks
If you are a cognac or whiskey lover, Sazerac is the drink for you! It is the official cocktail of New Orleans, and it is the perfect accompaniment to infuse your gatherings with the city's festive spirit, allowing you to channel the essence of New Orleans into your meal without leaving home.
Classic Sazerac Cocktail Recipe - Tasting Table
Fragrant and complex in flavor, this timeless rye whiskey cocktail recipe isn’t for the faint of heart. Not when there's absinthe involved.
New Orleans Hurricane Cocktail
This hurricane cocktail is a fruity rum punch made famous in New Orleans. The ultimate crowd-pleasing cocktail recipe!
Mint Julep a la Dabney
The Mint Julep is a classic cocktail perfect for a warm day. This mint julep recipe is from the pre-Prohibition era to celebrate the Black bartenders who perfected and mastered the Mint Julep.
Southern Iced Sweet Tea
Southern Iced Sweet Tea, a strong infusion of black tea that is sweetened and served over ice, is an essential element of southern cuisine.
FAQ
What is the difference between Jambalaya vs Gumbo?
These two dishes are iconic Louisana dishes and have roots in both Cajun and Creole heritage, however, gumbo is a stew while Jambalaya is a rice dish. Gumbo is served with long-grain white rice and is created by making a roux with flour and some kind of fat as well as a secondary type of thicker such as okra and/or filé (dried and powdered leaves of the North American sassafras). Whereas Jambalaya is a rice dish, meaning the rice is in the dish and typically relies on the holy trinity, the nickname for the finely chopped trio of onion, celery, and bell pepper, to season the dish.
source: https://www.southernliving.com/food/seafood/gumbo-vs-jambalaya
Is Jambalaya thick or soupy?
Jambalaya is thick and a little wet, but not soupy or gooey. To prevent it from being soupy, SwankyRecipes suggests running your rice under cold water until the water turns clear to get the starch off the rice.
source: https://www.swankyrecipes.com/creole-chicken-and-sausage-jambalaya-from-a-nola-local.html
What are the two types of Jambalaya?
There are two different styles of Jambalaya: Creole jambalaya and Cajun Jambalaya or you can distinguish them by red or brown Jambalaya. Simply put, Creole (red) Jambalaya uses tomatoes and Cajun Jambalaya does not.
source: https://www.explorelouisiana.com/articles/cajun-vs-creole-food-what-difference
What is the difference between creole seasoning and cajun seasoning?
This resource from Explore Louisana simplifies the distinction between the two quite succinctly: Creole food is city food and Cajun food is country food. Creole food is unique to New Orleans, and while the two are becoming more interchangeable, they are still two distinct cultures. Generally, Cajun seasoning is the spicier of the two because it includes cayenne pepper as well as back pepper, white pepper, and others. Creole seasoning on the other hand uses more herbs such as paprika, oregano, thyme, etc.. As mentioned previously, many people add both creole and cajun spices to their dishes.
source: https://www.explorelouisiana.com/articles/cajun-vs-creole-food-what-difference
Can you freeze Jambalaya?
Some say that if you freeze Jambalaya it can turn the rice gummy, however, others say if you store it in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months it should be fine. Here is a helpful resource that tested five different methods of reheating Jambalaya to see which method worked the best.
source: https://pantryandlarder.com/how-to-reheat-jambalaya/
59 Side Dishes for Jambalaya
What to serve with Jambalaya: Make a menu for a New Orleans feast from this selection of Southern apps, sides, veggies, salads, beans, desserts, and cocktails.
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