Jambalaya originated in southern Louisiana around the bayou where food was scarce and folks were searching for a simple inexpensive way to feed their large families. The word origin combines Jambon from the French meaning ham, and Aya meaning rice in African, since there were many slaves in the Louisiana at the time. One popular belief is that it originated from the Spanish rice dish Paella, which has also transformed in the United States to a dish called Spanish Rice. Jambalaya is as different as the people who make up the residents of Louisiana and is said to incorporate seafood, ham, smoked sausage rounds and chicken, although it doesn’t have to have all those ingredients. (more…)
