Jambalaya Soup

This soup is a great feature dish for a Mardi Gras menu. It’s a spicy, delicious jambalaya soup with a full tomato and vegetable flavor and a perfect little bite of heat. You can serve it with crackers, a crusty bread, or vegan cornbread for southern authenticity!

A few things you can do ahead before making this soup: make your own vegetable broth and precook the rice.

When I make soups with rice, I always precook the rice because I don’t like leaving it in the soup to become soggy in leftovers. Precooking also removes any “rice mysteries” and I know the rice will be perfect in the dish every time. You’ve probably heard me preach on the method for cooking rice like you cook pasta. I love it! I cook rice this way because it doesn’t get gooey, it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan or burn on the bottom, it’s perfect every single time, and it’s so easy! And bonus: it removes 50 – 80% of the arsenic in the rice! Some also recommend soaking the rice overnight before boiling, but I have never soaked mine.

To cook rice using this method, fill a soup pot or dutch oven with as much water as you can for it to safely boil, just as you would with pasta. If you prefer, you can salt the water. Bring the water to boil, add the rice and continue boiling the rice, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Keep checking the rice for softness and once it has reached the desired tenderness, drain it in a colander. Once it is thoroughly drained, place it in a cool bowl and fluff with a fork. Fluff a few more times if it sits for long before using. Cover and put any unused rice in the refrigerator. I always make extra rice so I’ll have some ready in the fridge over the following few days.

Once I have my precooked rice for any soup, I don’t add it to the pot of soup. When I serve my soup, I add the rice to each individual bowl, pouring the soup over it and stirring to blend before serving. This keeps the rice firm and chewy until it is served.

For ideas on making your own vegetable broth or stock, have a look at this article on The Kitchn. If you don’t make your own, the carton kind works great! I’ve used both.

This jambalaya soup recipe, adapted from Chef-Julia, also calls for thyme, fresh or dried. I used fresh when I made it, but only because I had some on hand. The dried thyme will work great in this soup.

If you don’t already, you *must* buy tomato paste in a tube! No more wasting the leftover tomato paste in that tiny little can. Just keep the tube on hand in the fridge until you need it. Cento makes a great organic tomato paste, available in most chain grocery stores.

Store bought Cajun seasoning works here, too, but you might as well make your own to have on hand! Have a look at these recipes for a Salt Free Cajun Seasoning and a Creole Seasoning.

Mr. Key Lime and I *loved* this jambalaya soup, along with these other Cajun recipes: Meatless Dirty Rice or Cajun Baked Okra.

Print Recipe

Jambalaya Soup

This spicy delicious cajun and creole soup is a perfect addition to any southern meal. Serve it at your Mardi Gras celebration!

Course

Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine

American, Cajun, Southern US

Keyword

brown rice, cajun holy trinity, cajun seasoning, celery, creole seasoning, garlic, green onions, jalapeno, jalapenos, onion, paprika, red beans, red bell pepper, scallions, thyme, tomato, tomato paste, tomatoes, vegetable broth, vegetable stock, vegetarian, veggie

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Servings

servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup red pepper or green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion chopped, about 1 cup
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper minced
• 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning store bought or see recipe link, above
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 ounce can tomatoes chopped, diced or crushed
• 5 cups vegetable broth or stock homemade or store bought
• 2 cups red beans
• 3 cups cooked brown rice measures 3 cups *after* cooked
• green onions or scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
• salt and black pepper to taste

Course Main Dish, Soup Cuisine American, Cajun, Southern US Keyword brown rice, cajun holy trinity, cajun seasoning, celery, creole seasoning, garlic, green onions, jalapeno, jalapenos, onion, paprika, red beans, red bell pepper, scallions, thyme, tomato, tomato paste, tomatoes, vegetable broth, vegetable stock, vegetarian, veggie Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 45 minutes Servings servings Ingredients 1 cup red pepper or green bell pepper, chopped 1 small onion chopped, about 1 cup 1/2 cup diced celery 2 cloves garlic minced 1 jalapeno pepper minced 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning store bought or see recipe link, above 1 teaspoon paprika 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 2 tablespoons tomato paste 15 ounce can tomatoes chopped, diced or crushed 5 cups vegetable broth or stock homemade or store bought 2 cups red beans 3 cups cooked brown rice measures 3 cups *after* cooked green onions or scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Over medium heat add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of the vegetable broth to a soup pot or dutch oven. Add the bell peppers, onions, celery and jalapenos. Simmer until the onion is translucent.

   
2. Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning, stir well to mix. Then add the paprika and thyme. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and stir well. Add the remaining vegetable broth. Cook 15 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add the red beans, plus salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 30 minutes more.

   
4. To serve, spoon 1/2 cup of rice into each serving bowl. Top with hot soup; stir to blend. Top with thinly sliced green onions or scallions. Serve hot with hot sauce on the side.
5. This soup can be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen.

Recipe Notes

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Leave any feedback in comments below. Also, share your comments on Instagram: @key_lime_coconut or on Twitter: @keylime_coconut. We love seeing hashtags #keylimecoconut #keylimecoconutblog and #beachbumvegan when you try our recipes.