Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a Cajun rice dish, similar to Spainish paella (in looks, but not taste). The dish has its origins in several rice-based dishes well attested in the Mediterranean cuisines of West Africa, Spain, and France, especially in the West African dish jollof, the Spanish dish paella, and the Provençal French dish sometimes also called known or as jambalaia.

Jambalaya is similar to (but distinct from) other rice-and-meat dishes known in Louisiana cuisine: Gumbo. Both dishes use similar sausages, meats, seafood, vegetables and seasonings.

Jambalaya is primarily a rice dish (think paella) while gumbo is more of a stew that is thickened with a roux and made with chicken, sausage, and/or seafood. Both gumbo and jambalaya are often made with some similar meats and vegetables but the process of making them and flavors of the end result are completely different.