Ingredients

The following ingredients have 9 Servings
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 pound Andouille sausage, thinly sliced into rounds
  • 3 small bell peppers, cored and diced (I used a mix of colors)
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper*, seeded and finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup uncooked white or brown rice
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning** (add more/less to taste)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • salt and pepper
  • (optional garnishes: chopped fresh parsley, thinly-sliced green onions, hot sauce)

Instruction

  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and sausage, and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, bell peppers, celery, onion, jalapeño, and stir to combine.  Continue sautéing for 5-6 more minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the garlic, and sauté for 1 more minute until the garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, and stir to combine.  Continue cooking for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
  • Gradually stir in the chicken stock, then add the crushed tomatoes, rice, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves and dried thyme.  Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer.  Then reduce the heat to medium-low, and continue simmering the soup for 15 more minutes — being sure to stir the soup occasionally (yes, more!) so that the rice doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pot — until the rice is cooked and tender.
  • Stir in the shrimp and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, or until the shrimp is cooked through (it should be pink and opaque, not gray).
  • Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.  Then serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes if desired.