Recipe: Skillet Jambalaya

SKILLET JAMBALAYA

4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed of excess skin and fat
Table salt and ground black pepper
5 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 pound andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch pieces*
1 medium onion, chopped medium
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped medium
5 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
1 (14 1/2 ounces) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound large shrimp (31 to 40 count), peeled, deveined, and rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a 12-inch 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.

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.

Add the remaining 3 teaspoons oil to the skillet and return to medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons (or to taste) salt; cook, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the rice to the skillet 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 into the rice. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. 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 using two forks. Stir the parsley and shredded chicken into the rice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

*If you cannot find andouille sausage, either chorizo or linguica can be substituted.

VARIATION:
For a spicier jambalaya, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne along with the vegetables, and/or serve it with Tabasco.

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Source: Cooking at Home with America's Test Kitchen from the Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine