Howie Velie, the chef and owner of Magnolia, in Scottsville, Virginia, makes his lovely chicken jambalaya with organic carrots, peppers and parsley from Dave Matthews's Best of What's Around farm and Star Label Chardonnay from Matthews's winery, Blenheim Vineyards. This jambalaya is only mildly spicy, which is true to the Creole tradition of favoring flavor over heat. Feel free to substitute shrimp or crawfish for the chicken. Plus: More Chicken Recipes and Tips
How to Make It
In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil. Add the rice and cook until just al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain well, shaking out the excess water.
In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate. Add the peppers, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, paprika and bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and the chicken to the casserole and cook, stirring, until all of the liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and boil over high heat until nearly evaporated, about 4 minutes. Stir in the rice. Add the stock, season with salt, pepper and cayenne and bring to a boil. Cook uncovered until the rice is tender, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley and serve with hot sauce.