Jambalaya vs Paella - What is the difference?

You simply cannot go wrong with delicious Cajun food and Cajun type dishes. Does your mouth water just thinking about those deliciously tasty dishes? Or maybe you prefer the subtle flavor of Spanish dishes that seem to perfectly pronounce the seasonings and make your taste buds rejoice.

Many times you come across dishes created in a very similar way but that satisfy totally different palates. Although they look very similar, they are actually very unique. Jambalaya and paella are two such dishes. To the untrained eye, you might think these dishes are the same thing, but they’re not!

What is the difference between jambalaya and paella?

For starters, jambalaya is a Cajun dish from Louisiana, while paella is a Spanish rice dish. These dishes are prepared in a very different way, especially with different spices that greatly alter their final result. 

In this guide, we will discuss the differences between jambalaya and paella in detail. We hope that in the end you fully understand these separate dishes. We’ll start by reviewing each dish individually and then wrap them all up in a quick summary.

Read on to learn all about jambalaya and paella.

Your guide to jambalaya and paella

When it comes to preparing the right dish, it’s important to understand what sets a dish apart. It seems that each dish has something that makes it stand out compared to others. In general, there are numerous dishes that are comparable to others, but have a unique twist that sets them apart.

Then there are dishes that are incredibly unique and simply cannot be matched or compared to many other things - think Beef Wellington and dishes of that nature. The best thing is that you can customize almost any dish.

Jambalaya and paella are two such dishes. They may look a lot alike to some, but they are quite unique in their own way.

We are going to talk about each of them separately and then we will do a quick review to see how these two dishes differ.

Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a Cajun-style dish . You may also hear it described as Creole, as they are very similar in nature. This dish hails from Louisiana and embraces a mix of Spanish, French, and even West African cultural identities.

Jambalaya is a variation of meats mixed with rice.  You can choose any meat you want, but almost any jambalaya dish you come across will contain some type of sausage, with smoked sausage being the most common form.

Jambalaya can also include pork or chicken. You may even see shellfish, especially lobster and shrimp, although these are less common in the traditional jambalaya dish. As in most dishes, you can choose what you like; what’s really going to set your jambalaya apart is the seasoning.

Apart from meat, jambalaya also contains some vegetables.  Onion, celery, and green bell pepper are the traditional vegetables added to jambalaya , although carrots, okra, tomatoes, and garlic or even chili peppers are also common. All this is accompanied by rice.

The jambalaya is then enhanced with hearty seasonings that have strong flavors.  You may recognize seasonings like cumin and cayenne pepper.

Jambalaya is actually much more like gumbo than paella . However, jambalaya and gumbo are also quite different.

how to make jambalaya

To give you a good overview of the dish, we thought it might be helpful to share a quick overview of how jambalaya is made. This is a basic traditional recipe, but keep in mind that you can easily change things up.

It is simply about offering you a basic reference of how the dish is made. 

1. You will need olive oil, andouille sausage, onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, white rice, chicken, shrimp, paprika, thyme, cayenne pepper, and cumin. Remember that you can slightly adjust the meats and vegetables according to your preferences.
2. The chicken will need to be cooked before starting this dish. Start by browning the sausage in olive oil. Then put it away. Leaving the oil in the pan, sauté the vegetables for about 6-7 minutes. The garlic should only be added for 1 minute at the end.
3. Add the liquid elements if you are using chicken broth or tomatoes of any kind. This is also where you will add the seasonings. In this recipe, that means your paprika, thyme, cayenne pepper, and cumin. You will also want a little salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the cooked sausage and rice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium or high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Everything should be quite tender. You can add more broth if necessary.
5. Add the prawns and cover to cook over low heat for another 5 minutes. Then add the chicken and let it cook for another 5 minutes.

Jambalaya is quite simple to make. The overall process will probably take about 45 minutes if prep time is included. You don’t really need any side dishes or side dishes to go with the jambalaya, but it is usually served with cornbread.

For a more gourmet take on Cajun jambalaya, check out this entertaining recipe tutorial from Isaac Toups with Munchies on YouTube.

Paella

Paella is a Spanish dish. It is considered a rice dish, which means that the rice is the base of the dish and then other things are added to it to complement the flavorful and delicious rice. Paella is so popular in Spanish culture that it is often considered its national dish.

Traditionally, paella is cooked in a wide, shallow pan over a fire.  Now, it is usually done in a pan on the stove.

Paella usually contains round grain rice, green beans, rabbit, chicken, duck, and broad beans . Sometimes you’ll find artichoke hearts and stems, as well as possibly snails in the paella.

The paella is seasoned with saffron and rosemary, mainly with a few other mild seasonings. In today’s versions of the dish, you can find garlic, sweet red pepper, and different meats than in the traditional creation.

It has become very common to add shrimp and shellfish to paella.  This is because there are multiple interpretations of the dish, from the Valencian Paella, the Seafood Paella and the Mixed Paella. Only these 3 variants have many differences.

how to make paella

To give you a quick reference, we share a summary of how paella is made. Please note that this is just a reference. There are several ways to make paella and also several ways to personalize it.

1. You will need fresh parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves, saffron, rosemary, and salt and pepper for seasoning. You will also need water, chicken broth, prawns, chicken, chorizo, onion, bell pepper, peas, rice and any other addition of your choice.
2. Start by combining the parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper and set aside.
3. Combine the water and broth in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer (you don’t want it to boil). Keep warm over low heat.
4. In a skillet (or paellera), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and skip it. Add the sausage and skip, then add the prawns and skip too. Remove the meat from the pan.
5. Now sauté the onion and bell pepper. Add the tomatoes and garlic, as well as the saffron and rosemary and the garlic cloves. Cook for about 5 minutes.
6. Add the rice and cook for about 1 minute, stirring all the time.
7. Add the broth mixture and herbs from step 2. Add the meat and peas (or other vegetables).
8. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drizzle with the lemon juice.
9. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.

We couldn’t include a jambalaya recipe video without also including a paella video. Here is Omar Allibhoy’s Spanish paella recipe on Jamie Oliver’s YouTube channel.

abstract review

As you can see from the details shared here, paella and jambalaya contain similar ingredients, but are generally very different.

They come from different cultural backgrounds, and while both are made with some of the same meats, as well as rice, and both are prepared on the stovetop, they are very different from each other.

The jambalaya is seasoned with bold Creole or Cajun seasonings.  With jambalaya, you almost always have andouille sausage, as well as chicken and possibly shrimp. There is also a good variety of vegetables.

Paella, on the other hand, has multiple variations , some include seafood while others have strange things like duck or rabbit. You will see that seafood paella is the most common type of paella served today. The flavors are more subtle, with rosemary and saffron as the main spices. 

Related questions

We hope you find this guide on jambalaya and paella an informative resource to differentiate between these dishes.

We invite you to review our questions and answers section for additional information.

What is the best rice for paella?

We recommend using Round Rice if you can find it. It is a round rice that will be the most traditional. However, any short grain rice will also work.

What is a good appetizer for Jambalaya or Paella?

Both dishes can make up a complete meal on their own. However, you can always add a salad or bread side if you need something else.