This vegan jumbalaya with okra and Linda McCartney sausages sits so well with some garlic bread and steamed vegetables. Whilst trying to think what to cook in my new Le Creuset sauteuse, jumbalaya just popped into my head from somewhere. A few internet searches gave me a handful of meat based recipes that I knew I could veganise without much trouble.
Picking the best elements from each was easy, and after adding in some vegan sausage, okra and the necessary spices I got cooking. The first try worked really well and fortunately I took a few pictures as I cooked. It was really tasty and fairly easy, especially as I used frozen okra so not even any okra to chop. As an added bonus I got to use my new Le Creuset sauteuse again – I think I made a great decision to buy it – even if it was £174.00 ouch!
If you’re in Bath, then Stokes in Moorland Road always keep frozen okra in stock. Long grain brown basmati rice is a must, because it’s so much healthier than the denatured white version. The main thing is the Creole “holy trinity” of onions, celery and peppers as long as you have them you’re in! The nice wide shallow sauteuse is perfect for this dish – no reaching down into a deep pan with a long wooden spoon. It also fits in the oven easily and the stainless steel lid helps caramelise the vegetables in the gorgeous Vegan Jumbalaya with okra.
This is a big dish that will serve 8 easily especially if served with spicy cabbage and garlic bread. Hummus goes well with it as does my special red bean pate. Of course it keeps well in the fridge for several days and re-heats well.
Jambalaya
Equipment
- `1 large shallow pan Le Creuset sauteuse is ideal
- 1 Actifry is useful but not essential
Ingredients
- 9 single Linda McCartney vegan sausages or similar.
- 450 g red onions approx. 2 medium when chopped
- 200 g celery 3 sticks approx.
- 6 to 8 cloves garlic
- 1 whole large bell peppers or 2 small - 350g approx. when chopped
- 250 g speciality mushrooms or chestnut mushrooms 1 standard sized pack
- 250 g okra 1 small pack approx or frozen ready cut can add more if you like okra....
- 500 g juicy vine tomatoes
- 250 g long-grain brown basmati rice
- 3 whole low salt stock cubes or 2 veg stock & one umami
- 4 to 5 tbsps Cajun spices Harvest is good for this
- 250 g black beans Optional ingredient 1 can of
- 45 g Cold pressed rapeseed oil – or possibly coconut oil. use what's needed for your pans
- 30 g parsley or corriander 1 small pack
Instructions
- Chop the onions into reasonably small pieces and add some oil to a large pan suitable for sautéing – I’ve just bought a Le Creuset sauteuse which is perfect. Start sauteeing on a medium heat – while you chop the celery into approx 1cm lengths and add along with the garlic sliced reasonably finely. Cook for around 5 minutes.
- Chop the peppers, okra, and mushrooms and add to the pan – add a little more oil if necessary. Keep suateeing
- Meanwhile, rinse the brown rice and add to a pan with 0.75 litres of boiling water. Add the stock cubes too. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes or so.
- Then cook your veggie sausages – I find the best ones to be Linda McCartney "original" ones – but there are loads to choose from. Cook the sausages whole first off (easiest way is in an Actifry from frozen) in a frying pan. Then cut each one into roughly 5 or 6 rounds and then sauté on the exposed ends to finish them off.
- Chop the tomatoes into segments and sauté in a separate pan for a few minutes.
- When the main pan ingredients have had a further 10 minutes cooking (after you added the peppers & okra) add the cajun spices and stir in.
- Shortly after add the tomatoes & sauteed sausages and stir gently to avoid breaking up the sausages.
- Then add the partly cooked brown rice including the water.
- Give the whole thing a good stir – check there’s enough water – so that most of the veg are in liquid – but not swimming in it - the 0.75 litre that came in with the rice should be enough, but you may need to add a small additional quantity.
- Bring the whole pan to a simmer, and put in the oven on 150°C
- Cook for around 20 to 30 minutes – check the progress of the rice & water content – the water should be almost completely absorbed – with just a little liquid left – so still nice and juicy, but not swimming in liquid. This is a question of judgement because there are so many factors.
- Serve with smashed potatoes, chips and or sweetcorn or garlic bread.
