In the vibrant and spirited realm of Louisiana cuisine, there lies a dish that captures the essence of Cajun tradition like no other: the delectable "real Cajun pastalaya." A symphony of flavors and textures, this one-pot wonder harmonizes the robust flavors of chicken, sausage, and seafood with the comforting embrace of tender pasta, all enveloped in a rich, aromatic broth that promises an unforgettable culinary experience. Embark on a journey through the heart of Louisiana's culinary heritage as we unveil the secrets to creating an authentic "real Cajun pastalaya" that will transport your taste buds to the vibrant streets of New Orleans and beyond.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CAJUN PASTALAYA
My own Cajun pastalaya recipe I put together after trying 3 or 4 different local Southern Louisiana recipes. The prep/cook times may be off, as I have never timed myself. Hope y'all enjoy! Serve with crusty bread.
Provided by Bevin
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Shrimp
Time 1h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook for 2 minutes. Add celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink inside and juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes more. Add tomatoes, paprika, Creole seasoning, and cayenne pepper; bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add broth to the pot and return to a simmer. Add penne and simmer for 8 minutes. Add shrimp. Continue to simmer, stirring constantly, until pasta is tender but firm to the bite and shrimp are cooked through, about 7 minutes more.
- Stir in cream. Stir in thyme, oregano, and basil. Cook until just heated through, 3 to 5 minutes more. Serve topped with green onions and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 640.1 calories, Carbohydrate 53.7 g, Cholesterol 185.1 mg, Fat 31.5 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 36.6 g, SaturatedFat 12.7 g, Sodium 1217.6 mg, Sugar 7.1 g
CREAMY CAJUN PASTALAYA
Creamy Cajun Pastalaya - just like jambalaya but better, made with pasta instead and with a creamy sauce and Fontina cheese. Great crowd pleaser and super simple!
Provided by Joanna Cismaru
Categories Dinner Lunch Main Course
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
- Season the shrimp with about 1/2 tbsp of the cajun seasoning and set aside.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven heat the olive oil. Add the shrimp and cook on both sides until it turns pink, about 2 min per side, could be less depending on the size of your shrimp. Remove the shrimp from the pot and set aside.
- Add the chicken and sausage to the pot, and sprinkle about 1 tbsp of the cajun seasoning over the chicken. Stir everything together and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, celery and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add all the peppers and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 tbsp of cajun seasoning over the peppers, stir well and cook for another 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and heavy cream to the skillet, stir and season with salt and pepper if needed. Add the shrimp back to the pot. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the cooked pasta and about 1/2 cup of the shredded Fontina cheese. Stir everything together.
- Remove from heat, then garnish with the remaining Fontina cheese, green onions and parsley. The pasta will continue to soak up the sauce.
- Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftover for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 529 kcal, Carbohydrate 49 g, Protein 31 g, Fat 22 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Cholesterol 175 mg, Sodium 833 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CAJUN PASTALAYA
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta liquid.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and add shrimp to skillet. Sauté 2-3 minutes. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook until no longer pink in the middle, stirring once or twice, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from skillet and place with shrimp.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter and Andouille sausage, onion, green pepper, red pepper, and celery. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, until Andouille is browned and vegetables are softened.
- Add garlic, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme and cook 30 seconds. Then add Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth. Let simmer 3 minutes.
- Add cream and simmer 3 minutes. Return shrimp and chicken and add cooked pasta plus reserved cooking liquid. Simmer another 2-3 minutes. Check for seasoning and add salt to taste.
- To serve, top with green onions.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 897 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
CAJUN PASTALAYA - PASTA JAMBALAYA
The classic flavors of a chicken and sausage jambalaya but in a quick and easy skillet pasta dinner.
Provided by Deep South Dish
Categories Main Dish, Dinner, Pasta
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat fat in a large, covered pot or skillet and add the chicken, and brown well on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- Slice the sausage in half lengthwise, then chop, adding to the skillet and cook until browned.
- Stir in the onion and green pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and water; bring up to a boil.
- Meanwhile, cut the chicken breast into cubes and return to the pot, adding in the dry pasta, thyme, basil, parsley, and Cajun seasoning, return to boil; reduce to medium low, cover and cook for about 25-30 minutes or until pasta is tender and most of liquid has been absorbed.
- Stir in the butter and green onion; remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes covered. Taste, add salt and pepper, adjust seasonings as needed and serve with hot French bread to soak up the juices.
REAL CAJUN PASTALAYA
This is one of our favorite "go to" meals here in our south Louisiana home. It's a modern twist on traditional jambalaya where we use pasta instead of rice. This is a basic recipe that is very versatile, so the combinations are many. I prefer penne pasta, but you can use any pasta from spaghetti, fettuccine, rotini, elbow; regular, flavored (spinach/ tomato pasta, for example) wheat... really, ANY pasta. The protein can be varied as well; I use rotisserie chicken because I like the flavor it gives it. You may use 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts. NOTE: when using chicken breasts, brown them in a skillet whole and cube them after. Other proteins can be added, I usually use more than one. Our local favorites: crawfish, shrimp, and alligator work well. For sausage I use Andouille, but you can use any smoked sausage, tasso, or whatever is local for you... I've done it with kielbasa too. You can even throw some BACON in if you'd like. This dish is the epitome of "versatile." I don't think I've cooked it the same twice. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Provided by Mathikaileigh
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a heavy pot that is NOT nonstick (I use Magnalite) brown sausage.
- After sausage is browned, remove from pot and add onions and bell pepper. Cook on medium-high heat in fat rendered from sausage (add butter or olive oil if needed) until wilted; about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook a few more minutes.
- Add sausage back to pot along with chicken or which ever protein you choose, except if using shrimp).
- Add all remaining ingredients except green onions and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick to bottom. Reduce heat, cover, simmer for about 25 minutes, until pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If using shrimp, add it at this point.
- Remove from heat, stir in green onions. Serve hot. French bread is delicious with it and you can sop up the sauce.
KELLY'S PASTALAYA
This recipe is like jambalaya, but instead of rice you use pasta. I got the basic recipe from a friend and made it my own after adding a few more ingredients. It takes a little bit of time to make but it is worth it!
Provided by kellycantillo
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h2m
Yield 30 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- .DIRECTIONS:.
- If you have a cast iron jambalaya pot use it, if not you can use a magnalite or a very large oval pot to cook the Pastalaya. Start by browning the pork first. Brown it until it makes like a crust on the bottom. Set it aside in a large bowl. Next, brown the sausage. After you brown the sausage set it aside also in the same bowl as the pork. Then, add the chopped onions in the pot that you just browned all the meats inches Add just a little of chicken broth to release the flavor from the bottom of the pot that the meat made. This will turn the onions like a caramel color. Add cream of mushroom soup and beef gravy to onions. Stir till well blended. Add meats. Let this mixture come to a slight boil. Next, add chicken broth. You will not use both cans of broth. Add enough until it is about 2 inches from rim of pot. Let mixture come to a boil. Add the stick of butter. Add Tony's seasoning to taste. To know that you have seasoned it well, when you taste it, it will pick your throat. It may taste like a lot of seasoning, but you will need it to make it have a good taste. After this mixture comes to a rolling boil, add pasta. Break the pasta in half. Stir with a pasta utensil. Let it come to a boil again then, lower the fire and cover it, stirring it occasionally. Keep checking the pasta by tasting it to see if it is cooked. It should be tender just like when you cook spaghetti. This makes a lot. It will feed at least 10-15 people. ENJOY!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 528.5, Fat 24.5, SaturatedFat 9.4, Cholesterol 78.9, Sodium 1275.7, Carbohydrate 42.1, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 3.3, Protein 33
Tips:
- When selecting shrimp, opt for large to extra-large ones for succulent, meaty pieces.
- Season the shrimp liberally with Cajun seasoning and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes, enhancing their flavor.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when searing the shrimp; sear them in batches to achieve a nice caramelization.
- Use a combination of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and celery for a flavorful mirepoix.
- Add garlic and cook it until fragrant, but not burnt, to prevent bitterness.
- Use a flavorful stock, such as chicken or seafood stock, to create a rich and flavorful base for the pastalaya.
- Bring the stock to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and add the rice. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and cook until the rice is tender.
- Once the rice is almost cooked, stir in the shrimp, vegetables, and Cajun seasoning. Continue simmering until the shrimp is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Serve the pastalaya hot, garnished with parsley or green onions for an extra burst of flavor.
Conclusion:
Pastalaya is a delicious and versatile dish that combines the flavors of Cajun cuisine with the heartiness of a one-pot meal. With its vibrant colors, bold flavors, and easy-to-follow steps, this recipe is a perfect choice for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Experiment with different types of protein, vegetables, and seasonings to create your own unique pastalaya that will surely become a family favorite.
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