Skillet Jambalaya


SERVES 4 TO 6

If you cannot find andouille sausage, either chorizo or linguiça can be substituted. For a spicier jambalaya, you can add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper along with the vegetables, and/or serve it with hot sauce.

4

bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1½ pounds), trimmed

Table salt and ground black pepper

5

teaspoons vegetable oil

½

pound andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced into ¼-inch pieces (see note)

1

medium onion, chopped medium

1

medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped medium

5

medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1½ tablespoons)

cups long-grain white rice

1

(14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

1

(8-ounce) bottle clam juice

cups low-sodium chicken broth

1

pound large shrimp (31 to 40 per pound), peeled and deveined

2

tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

1. Dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Carefully lay the chicken thighs in the skillet, skin-side down, and cook until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip the chicken over and continue to cook until the second side is golden, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the chicken to a plate. Using paper towels, remove and discard the browned chicken skin.

2. Pour off all but 2 teaspoons of the fat left in the skillet and return to medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the andouille and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes; transfer the sausage to a small bowl and set aside.

3. Add the remaining 3 teaspoons oil to the skillet and return to medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt; cook, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook until the edges turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, clam juice, and chicken broth; bring to a simmer. Gently nestle the chicken and any accumulated juices into the rice. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.

4. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Stir the shrimp and sausage into the rice and continue to cook, covered, over low heat for 2 more minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let stand, covered, until the shrimp are fully cooked and the rice is tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the parsley and shredded chicken into the rice, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.