How to Cook Delicious Cajun Gumbo

Norman Brown

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How to Cook Delicious Cajun Gumbo Delicious, fresh and tasty.

Cajun Gumbo. In this recipe, we use the classic combo of chicken and andouille sausage, but feel free to change it up with other proteins. A classic roux is the thickening agent for this traditional Cajun-style gumbo made rich and hearty with chicken, sausage, onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and lively seasonings. Remove chicken and allow to cool.

We also DO NOT use already made soups, or bases in our gumbos.

We use very simple ingredients and get a very good result.

Allow the butter to heat for a couple minutes, then add the flour to the pot.

You can have Cajun Gumbo using 26 ingredients and 14 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of Cajun Gumbo

You need 1 lb. of medium raw shrimp (peeled, tail off).
Prepare 2 cups of water.
It’s Dash of Old Bay seasoning.
You need 1 of medium yellow onion (finely chopped).
Prepare 1 of green (and/or red) bell pepper (coarsely chopped).
Prepare 1 of jalapeno pepper (sliced with seeds).
It’s 3 stalks of celery (sliced, leaves for stock).
You need Dash of salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme.
Prepare 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Prepare 6 of chicken thighs (whole, skin on).
You need 1 lb. of Andouille sausage.
You need 2 tbs. of butter.
You need 1/2 cup of flour.
It’s 3 cups of chicken stock.
It’s 2 of garlic cloves (peeled, thinly sliced).
You need Dash of salt, pepper, Creole or Cajun seasoning.
It’s 1 tsp. of dried thyme.
Prepare Dash of red pepper flakes.
Prepare 1 of bay leaf.
It’s Dash of Worcestershire sauce.
You need Dash of hot sauce.
Prepare 1/2 cup of green onions (thinly sliced, white ends to green).
Prepare 1 cup of sliced okra (frozen - if not in season).
You need 2 of tsps. Filé powder (optional).
Prepare 1/3 cup of fresh parsley (finely chopped).
It’s 2 cups of cooked rice.

Cajun gumbo is usually identified by its dark roux, cooked until it is a color "a few shades from burning".

The roux is used with either okra or filé powder.

Seafood is popular in Cajun gumbo, but the southwestern areas of the state often use fowl, such as chicken or duck, and sausage.

The fowl is generally not deboned, and onions, celery.

Cajun Gumbo step by step

Prepare the shrimp and set aside in the refrigerator. Take the shells / tails and place them in a small pot. Add the water and Old Bay seasoning to the pot and bring to a boil..
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid into a large cup and discard the shells. [Reserve this liquid].
Prepare the vegetables; place them all in a bowl, and set aside..
Season the chicken. Add oil to a large pan and cook the chicken 15 minutes per side on medium heat. Remove them from the pan and allow them to cool..
In the same pan, add the sausage and brown 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan and allow it to cool..
Pour off the oil in the pan to measure about 1/2 cup. Add butter to the pan and begin to melt. Add the measured oil to the pan and heat over medium-high heat until slightly smoking. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup flour..
Cook this, whisking constantly, until the roux is a bit darkish brown. The timing on this varies depending on the pan used, the heat, medium or dark roux technique, etc. Be careful not to let it burn. [May take 8-15 minutes].
When the roux reaches the optimum color, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the vegetables, and mix. Scrape the pan bottom and stir occasionally. Heat this for 7-8 minutes, until the vegetables are soft, and set aside..
Take a large pot (Dutch oven), pour in the chicken and shrimp stock, and begin to heat. When the stock is hot, add the vegetable mixture (using a large spoon), and mix this as you add more. When the roux is dissolved, continue to heat until a slight boil..
Reduce the heat to low-medium and stir in the garlic, all seasonings, and sauces. Remove the chicken meat from the bones, roughly chop the meat, and place in the pot. [Discard the skin and bones] Cut the sausage up in 1/2” pieces and add them to the pot..
Add the green onions (white parts) and simmer for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. After the long simmer, raise the heat to medium, add the okra, and cook for 15 minutes. The stock will thicken a bit more..
Reduce the heat to low, add the refrigerated shrimp and parsley, stir a few times, and cook until the shrimp begins to turn a slight pink. [Add filé powder at this point if not using okra] Turn off the heat; allow this to rest, while preparing the rice..
To serve, place a cup of cooked rice into a round mini-cup. Invert the cup of rice into the center of a plate or bowl (with low sides). Ladle the gumbo all around the mounded rice and garnish with parsley. Repeat for other serving bowls..
Serve and enjoy with some crusty bread or cornbread..

Cajun Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo recipe that is made the authentic way by beginning with a roux, adding the "holy trinity", and tossing in andouille sausage and fresh Gulf shrimp.

This Cajun gumbo recipe is perfect for a Mardi Gras dinner party or enjoying year-round!

This is a straightforward, real deal Cajun gumbo that everyone loved.

I like that the author labels this Cajun-style as opposed to Creole.

Creole cooking is lighter, probably more refined, and possibly might include tomato.