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jambalaya
noun
jam·ba·laya
ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə
1
: rice cooked usually with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
2
: a mixture of diverse elements
curious jambalayas of competing elements—Neil Hickey
Synonyms
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
Examples of jambalaya in a Sentence
its jambalaya of widely diverse nationalities and races gives the urban neighborhood a rich vitality
Recent Examples on the Web
The seasonal, seven-course menu often features a Louisiana rice offering that emphasizes the similarities between New Orleans jambalaya and the Senegalese version of jollof rice.
—Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2024
The jambalaya is a standout, loaded with chicken and sausage.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2024
Stirring the jambalaya is Kennedy, a member of the Bob Huggins coaching tree from his days as an assistant at Cincinnati.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024
His jollof rice, an African staple, is delicious evidence of the origin of Louisiana’s jambalaya.
—Usa Today Network, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
If too many cooks on TV, factual or fictional, have led you to expect a steaming jambalaya of shouts, showoffs, panic stations, and free-range oaths, Trần’s film will come as a calm and clear surprise: a consommé devoutly to be wished.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Our chicken jambalaya recipe showcased each Dutch oven's stovetop and slow-cooking capabilities, while our simple rice recipe revealed if the sides of the Dutch oven cooked the rice at a higher temperature than the center and vice versa.
—Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
In our jambalaya, the chicken thighs browned very well and came out nice and crispy with sufficient heat — no sticking and crowding.
—Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023
In addition to plush suites, the property also offers ample opportunity to explore classic Mississippi cuisine, with fried catfish, jumbo shrimp, and jambalaya all gracing the hotel restaurant menu.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jambalaya.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Louisiana French, from Occitan jambalaia
First Known Use
1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to jambalaya
Dictionary Entries Near jambalaya
Cite this Entry
“Jambalaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jambalaya. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
jambalaya
noun
jam·ba·laya
ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə
: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
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