Creole-style Jambalaya

== Description ==
This is a pretty good recipe and using eggplant in this dish is a good idea. This dish has lots of room for you to improvise and create your own jambalaya. This recipe is Creole-style, with a tomato base, but you may omit the tomato paste and tomatoes if you want country-style jambalaya. Serve with a salad and ice cold beer.
== Ingredients ==
* ½ cup olive oil
* 2 cups yellow onions, small dice
* 1 cup red onions, small dice
* 1 cup bell peppers, small dice
* 1 cup celery, small dice
* 2 cups eggplants, diced
* 1 cup yellow squash, diced
* 1 cup zucchini, diced
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons minced shallots
* 3 cups chopped tomatoes
* salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* ½ – 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
* 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, to taste
* ½ teaspoon dried thyme
* 3 bay leaves
* 4 cups long-grain rice
* 1 cup tomato paste
* 8 cups vegetable stock
* 1 cup chopped green onions
== Directions ==
# Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
# Add the onions, shallots, bell peppers and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
# Add the eggplant, squash, and zucchini, and saute until they're tender, about other 5 minutes or so.
# Add the tomatoes.
# Season with salt, creole seasoning, and additional cayenne, if desired.
# Add the bay leaves.
# Add the rice and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.
# Heat the tomato paste in a non-stick pan and stir, making sure it doesn't stick or burn, until the sugars in the paste begin to caramelize, and the paste begins to turn a deep mahogany color.
# De-glaze with some of the vegetable stock, stir and combine thoroughly.
# Add the tomato paste to the rest of the vegetable stock and stir until well-blended.
# Add the vegetable stock/tomato mixture to vegetables, stir and cover.
# Cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
# Do not stir the jambalaya while it's cooking.
# Remove from heat and let stand for 2–3 minutes.
# Add the green onions and mix thoroughly.
# Garnish with some fresh long chives, and serve with a salad and good beer.
Category:Bell pepper Recipes
Category:Celery Recipes
Category:Creole Vegetarian
Category:Eggplant Recipes
Category:Long-grain rice Recipes
Category:Onion Recipes
Category:Red onion Recipes
Category:Stew Recipes
Category:Tomato Recipes
Category:Yellow onion Recipes
Category:Tomato paste Recipes