The History of Jambalaya, the Dish and the Name, and One Amazing Recipe from the Past!

[@revsharkie]

I'm going to have to see if I can get hold of that cookbook! When I was in college, I was home one weekend, and my mom and I were watching Justin Wilson on PBS. He was making jambalaya. This was way before the internet, so we sat and wrote as fast as we could, then went to the store to get the ingredients, and made jambalaya for supper.

[@yesterkitchen]

HI Sharla! Oh I so remember Justin Wilson on PBS! He was a hoot! I hope you find the book, you will absolutely love it!!! Happy dinner!

[@revsharkie]

I found a copy on eBay! Should be here today.

[@yesterkitchen]

@@revsharkie I'm so excited!!! You will love this book!!!

[@HLR4th]

I love how so may of the origin stories have common themes: the guest/patron arrive at the inn/hotel/resturant and are hungry/tired/not feeling well/pregnant. The owner/host/chef has meager provisions but uses what is at had creatively to create something new/marvelous/soothing which is then named after the resturant/patron/chef. History certainly does rhyme; thanks for sharing the stories!

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Harry! Necessity is definitely the mother of invention! And this particular one is so good!! Did you see my Fettuccine Alfredo video? It was one of my first and if you love these stories, you will love that one!

[@HLR4th]

@@yesterkitchen Yes I did...that was the Pregnant reference!

[@yesterkitchen]

@@HLR4th LOL! I'm so sorry! I got in from Maui at 1am after a very long flight with a 5 hour layover....not thinking straight quite yet!!! :)

[@AfterCovidthefoodchannnel]

Wooww absolutely amazing my the history of this dish! Really like the video that you make and how you cooked! Excellent share my friend, have a nice day!!🦇

[@yesterkitchen]

Thank you my friend! This is a good one with such great stories!!!

[@ellendelights]

My Soul Sista that is a beautiful pot of Jambalaya, my favorite dish!!! What a fun and great story, this made my mouth water!!! Great recipe and many thanks for my request and the shoutout!!!

[@yesterkitchen]

My pleasure my soul sista! Sorry it took so long but that list!!!! LOL! Take care my friend! Happy cooking!

[@SmokyRibsBBQ]

Very interesting stories on jambalaya Jill! I'm not sure which one is accurate either, but fun to listen too. I can see how jambalaya is very related to paella. Your's looked delicious!

[@yesterkitchen]

Thank you Rus! So many stories! So many variations!

[@IntheKitchenwithKaren]

Wow such an interesting story of jambalaya!! And it makes perfect sense!! My Uncle in New Orleans makes the BEST one. And yes there are so many variations. I love paella too🥰. This looked delicious!!!

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Karen! Oh! I would love to see his recipe! And no matter what the story is, it is one delicious dish!!!

[@JB-lm5xt]

Love it. My husband is from Louisiana and so Jambalaya is on our weekly menu!

[@yesterkitchen]

Really? That is so cool! You know how easy it really is then! Have a great weekend Jen!!!!

[@jonathansgarden9128]

Oh this brings back memories, and im making it tonight. My momma is Cajun so she passed it down

[@yesterkitchen]

I'm so happy to hear that! This is one of my favorites! I know you'll enjoy your dinner tonight!

[@huongtoituonglai24]

Thank you for beautiful sharing👍awesome video my dear friend. 😎😎

[@frenchfriar]

With one exception (the addition of chicken), that looks just like the jambalaya my mother used to make. It was absolutely delicious, partly because she used jars of home-canned tomatoes in it. I can't ever remember there ever being leftovers, and she always made a huge pot full. We just loved it.

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi David! How wonderful! I'll be the home canned tomatoes made it extra good! And of course, Mom always adds love! I am so honored to bring back a childhood memory for you!

[@BBQPITDOG]

What a great history of Jambalaya Jill! Sure looks delicious! I shared this video with my friend Big Lew BBQ who is my authority on Cajun and Louisiana cooking! Hope you are doing well my friend and I'm wearing the same shirt today too LOL! Take care and congrats on your new house!

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Rob! Oh ho w cool, thank you for sharing! Say hi to Big Lew for me! And no way, we are twins? So awesome!!!! Have a great one my friend!

[@RealBigBadJohn]

Jambalaya is one of my specialties, Jill! This is a great version, and I'm sure I'll try it. Whenever I have any left over (very rare), I make fried jambalaya for breakfast and serve it with eggs and fresh fruit. Delicious.

[@yesterkitchen]

Oh wow John, that is so cool!! Such a great dish for leftovers! Nothing wrong with breakfast!

[@DefaultFlame]

It sounds and looks delicious. Thank you for sharing your version with us, Jill!

[@yesterkitchen]

My absolute pleasure!!! So many wonderful versions out there!

[@PaddyJoeCooking]

Jill!!! What a fabulous Jambalaya recipe my mouthis watering I've never eaten Andouille Sausage before and I would love to try it!!! And the history of this dish was most interesting I feel wuite educated on the subject now!!! Awesome cooking and story telling once again my friend I loved it!!!!

[@yesterkitchen]

I love to hear form you Patrick! I hope you can find Andouille out there, you would love it! And then you can make Jambalaya! Although you can make it without it, but its soooo good! Have a great weekend my friend!!!

[@ChefAdventures]

Jill! Your Jambalaya looks incredible. Instantaneously made me hungry! Awesome recipe and the spicier the better! Once again an amazing history as well! Thanks for this yummy share! Cheers to you! Sending love! 💞🥂

[@yesterkitchen]

Thank you love! Its so good!!! Always so happy to see you!

[@sugarcraftdecors]

Great history, and I this this dish is gonna be my faborite.. thank you for sharing

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi SugarCraft! Thank you so much! Stories and the recipe, they are both fabulous!!! Enjoy!

[@couldbecooking]

Yum! No doubt this has to taste good! 😊 My mouth is dripping all over my laptop right now! 🤤

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Could Be! LOL! I promise, it is!!!!

[@kathleenwebster]

Hi Jill ☺ Jambalaya has always been so intimidating to me, that I always bought Zatarains mix. Thank you, now I can make it from scratch! There are only a few dishes that that I've shied away from making, this was one of them, I've conquered the others lol. I know what I'm making next week 👍

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Kathleen! Oh yay! Yep, so easy and I am honored that you are going to give it ago! Way better than a mix! Please report back! I'm so excited for you for dinner!

[@RealBigBadJohn]

I like both theories on the origin of the name of the dish! ✔👍😜😎

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi John! Aren't they both great! Either way, this is one delicious jambalaya!

[@SleeperBBQ]

Thank You

[@Bianca-nj4nv]

This looks absolutely delicious, I definitely want to try this recipe as is, then I know I’ll have to tweak it for the family, as always Thank you Jill! 😊

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Bianca! Absolutely! And you will all love it!

[@Curiouscat5980]

Hello Jill 👋, I’m so glad you’re sharing this recipe. My hubby loves jambalaya. Now I can make it for him. Maybe. 😬 lol. Have a great weekend. 👍😎👍❤️❤️❤️🥰😋🤤😋🤤😋🤤😋🤤😋🤤💕✌️👊🍸🍹 Cheers my friend ! 😊

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Cheryl! Oh! Hubby would love this version and its so easy!!! You can do it!! LOL! Have a great weekend!!!!

[@TheOtherSideOfTheStove]

Jean Balayez = jambalaya that story is my favorite. And curly parsley is my fave too!

[@yesterkitchen]

We are two peas in a pod my friend!

[@timothyferdon9628]

hi Jill ! hope all is well!! this looks Great!! lets Eat.

[@constancelacount6341]

Jill, you are so fun! I loved Jambalaya when I was hangin' 'round the Mississippi Delta some thirty-forty years ago. You tickle me so... So here's a request: Crawfish Pie? Hank Williams must not be forgotten and I love to remember him best with Leon Russell's brilliant tribute album: "Hank Wilson's Back!"

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Constance! Oh I know that song and the dish! I will add it to my list and absolutely see what I can do! I'm about to start filming recipes from my upcoming book so it will be awhile. P.S. I am getting ready to send out my pre-ordered books (THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!) Were you the one that changed your address? I think so and cant find the email. If it was, can you send me a new email with your address? Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!!!

[@billshepherd4331]

Sounds Too Yummy!

[@yesterkitchen]

It sure is Bill!!

[@billshepherd4331]

@@yesterkitchen I don't doubt it!😋

[@Jenn-ie5vf]

I don't like eating small diced onions so this wouldn't quite work for me but it does look delish. My way is to make the onions big enough that those that don't them can pick them out, but still small enough for those that like onions to eat them LOL So happy to see one of your videos, as always :)

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Jennifer! I would totally support making them bigger! I get it, hubby can't stand onions so really the only time I get to eat them is when I make videos! LOL!! Always so happy to see you!!!!

[@IslenoGutierrez]

I’m from the New Orleans area in southeast Louisiana and my nephew doesn’t like onions so my sister, his mother, purées the onions into a liquid and adds them into the jambalaya (and other foods) so he doesn’t know they are there and he eats all of his food when she serves him some. You can’t taste any onion and it just blends in with the other flavors of the dish to make it tasty.

[@eirrenia]

Looks delish! Hmm. Maybe the name’s a portmanteau of jumble and balayez? A mixed jumble of good things. 😄

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Errenia! Welcome! That is what I love about food history and why I created this channel. So many delicious dishes with so many stories!

[@timothyferdon9628]

i Rember watching justin wilson when he had his show, he was Great to watch!!

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Tim! Hope you are doing well!! I watched him as a kid, what a personality!!!!

[@BuckHelton]

Howdy Jill! Your origin is close, Jambalaya is a portmanteau of Jamon, Spanish for ham, and Paella the rice dish you mentioned. While Andouille can certainly be used in this dish, traditionally the sausage of choice is Tasso. Basically a cubed smoked ham in a casing. (Trust me, I'm half coonass and lived in Louisiana for a few years too, also.) In any case it's a wonderful dish, and you done flung a hankerin' on me, and I'm gonna have to made some before too very long here! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Buck! So many stories! Thank you for adding this! Yes, I am very familiar with tasso but andouille is far more available around the country. But yes, so good! How coo to learn more about you! No doubt you know good Cajun food!! And if I can flung a hankerin' on you, my work here is done!!! Have a great weekend!! Laissez les bon temps rouler!! :)

[@freedomisthechoicesyoumake8594]

It originated in Senegal from Jollof rice

[@IslenoGutierrez]

I’m from south Louisiana. Tasso is not a sausage, it’s a spiced smoked ham. Jambalaya can be made with a variety of meats. It can be made with smoked sausage, andouille, tasso, pickled pork (“pickle meat”) or cubed ham (usually from the holidays) etc. There have been a couple of academic investigations into the origins of jambalaya and the earliest evidence of the name jambalaya is from Provençe, France in 1837. Most of the historic sources inside and outside of Louisiana say it’s a Spanish origin dish from Louisiana. So the likely story is that the Spanish invented it and named it and the French in Louisiana renamed it. This would mean that it wouldn’t be a portmanteau of jamon and paella. That is just a rumor like the other rumors like the Jean Balayez story and the jambon a la ya story.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

it is not from Senegal and is not influenced by jollof rice. There is no source that connects it. Most sources connect it to Spaniards in Louisiana and the name to French from Provençe, France. @@freedomisthechoicesyoumake8594

[@pennyfine5980]

hey hey hows it going fantastic recipes , i love the stuff. i also love red beans and rice. have a wonderful weekend .

[@yesterkitchen]

Hi Penny! Another great dish! Have a wonderful weekend too!!

[@FCHappyBaking]

Wow, this is a nice recipe and beautiful video. #Like100 and subscribed to your channel

[@SushiChillAndGrill]

This looks very good and very delicious!!! A Big Thumbs Up 👍👍 from a fellow food creator!! 👨‍🍳 New Sub here!

[@chefmelahatnyemekleri4495]

Merhabalar eğer istersen başaramayacağın hiç bir şey yoktur tıpkı bu başarılı videon gibi mükemmel olmuş Teşekkürler ellerine emeğine sağlık kendine iyi bak görüşürüz…

[@DriverNganjuk]

disini

[@AJ-pc5ln]

Jambalaya comes from African Jolof style of cooking brought over by enslaved Africans.

[@cayogator]

As a "Proud Louisianian", I must say ................"Looks like SH_T !

[@cayogator]

@@RealBigBadJohn Imma "JambaAss"

[@IslenoGutierrez]

You’re a rude Louisianian, you make us look bad