New Orleans Gumbo
Enjoy the taste of Louisiana and learn the secrets to awesome gumbo with this recipe. Shrimp, sausage, chicken, a dark colored roux, and spices flavor this rich New Orleans stew. All your relatives will be wanting you to make this for family dinners!
Servings: 9 cups
Calories: 472kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- sprinkle of salt and pepper
- 12 ounces Cajun-style Andouille sausage cut in coins
- 6 slices smoked bacon cut in ¼ inch pieces
- ¾ cup lard
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic roughly 6 cloves
- 5 cups seafood or shrimp stock
- 10 ounces fresh or frozen okra sliced
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ lemon without seeds
- 1 pound large shrimp shelled and deveined
- hot sauce to taste
- sprinkle salt and pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Brown the Meat
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium high heat. Brown the chicken breasts, turning over once. Once browned, remove from the heat and place on a plate. Once the chicken has cooled, shred with a fork.
- Add the bacon pieces and coined sausage to the pot, and cook until the fat is rendered from the bacon and the sausage is slightly brown. Remove from the heat and place on a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
Make the Roux
- In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, heat the fat (lard) over medium heat, whisk in the flour, and stir constantly until the roux turns a deep copper color, about 45 minutes. Check out my roux recipe get step-by-step photos and many helpful tips on this important step.
Making the Gumbo
- Transfer the roux to a heavy-bottomed pot and add the onion, green pepper, and celery. Stir and cook over medium high heat until it starts to soften, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Pour in the seafood stock and add the sausage, bacon, and shredded chicken. Stir until well combined, then mix in the sliced okra, fresh thyme, bay leaves, and half a seedless lemon.
- Cover and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lemon, then add the shrimp, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for 5 more minutes, then adjust seasonings to taste.
- Garnish the gumbo with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onion. Serve with freshly steamed white rice.
Notes
- This recipe tastes even better the next day. It also keeps well in the fridge for a few days, and it can be frozen.
- To make this quicker and easier, make the seafood stock and roux ahead of time. You can even brown the meat in advance.
- A dark roux is the backbone of gumbo; take your time making the roux as it will thickens this stew and will give it a smoky flavor.
- For additional thickening agents, use okra or file powder.
- Add hot sauce or file powder to your own bowl to customize it.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.1g | Protein: 33.6g | Fat: 30g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 892.1mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 2.9g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 26.5mg | Calcium: 80.6mg | Iron: 1.9mg
