Jammin' Jambalaya Soup

Spicy and filling, this soup makes a satisfying meal fit for a tailgate or just game watching!


Makes about 5 quarts

2 Tbl vegetable oil
1 pound andouille  or another spicy smoked sausage
5 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 large onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 medium stalks celery, diced
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1  14 to 15 ounce can plum tomatoes
8 cups chicken broth
3 cups cooked white rice
3/4 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
Cayenne pepper to taste


Cut the sausage into a 3/4 inch dice.  Remove any excess fat from the chicken thighs and then dice them about the same size as the sausage.
Heat the oil in a 6 quart soup pot (or larger) and add the diced sausage.  Once the sausage starts to render some fat, add the diced chicken and saute until the chicken loses some of its "rawness".
Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, paprika, basil, oregano and thyme and continue to saute until the vegetables soften.
With clean hands, crush the tomatoes and add them to the pot.  Give it a stir and bring to a simmer.
Add the chicken broth and bring the soup up to a boil and then down to a simmer for about 10 minutes.
Stir in the cooked rice and then taste the soup.  This is where you'll decide if you want to add a little cayenne pepper.  My sausage was very spicy so I added less than 1/4 teaspoon.  It's up to you.
Bring the soup back up to a simmer, add the shrimp, put a lid on the pot and turn the heat off.  The shrimp will cook within a couple of minutes.  if you're making the soup early in the day, add the shrimp after re heating.