Gumbo

TheCypressTimes.com ^ | 08/05/2009 | Stacey Winder

[Patriot1259]

There are so many different variations of gumbo, but this one is tried and true!

[Patriot1259]

Passed down for generations in Louisiana, Mississippi and now Texas, this is a favorite recipe and can be served as a side soup or an entire meal unto itself.

[dirtboy]

1 cup bacon drippings

That'll make the ol' arteries look like a lava lamp...

[ThirdMate]

Good stuff.

Where’s the gumbo file powder? I don’t see it in the recipe.

[nralife]

“Where’s the gumbo file powder?”

In a shaker on the table. Not everyone likes file powder... :)

[rightly_dividing]

The key is in the roux. If you dont get that right, you're in trouble, start over. Most recipies call for pork sausage, chicken broth, and crab meat in place of the beef stuff and chicken. But, all gumbo is good and this one sounds good to me. My wife makes chicken gumbo, minus all the sea food. That is good too. Over a bed of hot rice!!!! mmmmmm......

You know what they say in La.?
Honey, I got the rice cooking, what do you want for supper?

[CAD Daddy]

When making the roux (the first step) when she says stirring constantly she means stirring CONSTANTLY. My Mom always said never turn your back on a roux. And if you burn it start over.

[rightly_dividing]

So very right. Constant stirring!

We make a giant pot of seafood gumbo for Thanksgiving and have the whole family over. Yep, life is good on the Gulf Coast!

[fso301]

1 package frozen okra

Okra is one reason why I left Louisiana for Rhode Island.

[jonrick46]

Now I’m hungary!

[nralife]

How can a thread about gumbo end up having one of its comments removed?? LOL

[CaptRon]

And it will take a while. Heat too high and you will burn it in not time.

[CaptRon]

okra is nasty if you sautee it. I like it in gumbo.

[rightly_dividing]

One thing about gumbo and jambalaya, substitution works. Many people use whatever is available. Some like oysters in gumbo, some dont, same with Okra, chicken, and sausage.

I am getting hungry, I think that I will pull a container of gumbo out of the freezer, and get the rice cooking!

[CaptRon]

LOL!

[Harold Shea]

Mr Justin Wilson shows got me to trying cajun cooking long
ago,he was so cool

This is serious good eating

[rightly_dividing]

post # 5 was a photo of something not permitted here.

[rightly_dividing]

Have you tried okra battered and fried?

[mickey finn]

Probably something to do with putting tomatoes in the gumbo, which I have heard in sacrilegious in some circles. I like them in mine, but I am a Yankee.

[CaptRon]

No. Only tried to sautee it once. Knew nothing about it. It way a gooey mess but I would imagine battered and fried would be excellent.

[sima_yi]

Mr Justin Wilson shows got me to trying cajun cooking...

Ah Garontee!

Me, too.

[nralife]

“post # 5 was a photo of something not permitted here.”

Okay, thanks! I shan’t ask what the photo was of... lol

[linn37]

I have a gumbo recipe that the family loves. I simmer a picnic ham until the meat falls off the bone. I remove it from the pot and throw in a chicken and do the same to it. In a fry pan I cook a chopped onion and then throw in couple of cans of cooked tomatoes. When the chickens done both the ham and chicken gets chopped up and added back to the broth along with the vegetables,two bags of okra and two bags of shrimp. I then season it with the file to taste and serve it over rice. The chicken takes on a very tasty smokey flavor after cooking in the ham juice. I got the recipe from some country cookbook in a souvenir shop.

[rightly_dividing]

Okra can be slimey. It must be cooked in something or battered and fried. Fried okra is a traditional southern dish, available in most restaurants in the south.

Of course, we batter and fry almost anything.

[rightly_dividing]

Okra and tomatoes is another good southern use for okra. Basically, cut okra and diced tomatoes in a tomato sauce, seasoned, and over a bed of hot rice, of course!

[CaptRon]

Emeril Lagasse had it on a show once. said you had to use very sharp knife to cut it. that way it won’t get gooey. not so sure.

[pepperhead]

The recipe calls for okra which helps thicken it. Forgot what book I got this out of but they say they like to use one or the other and not both.

[nralife]

Probably something to do with putting tomatoes in the gumbo, which I have heard in sacrilegious in some circles.

That could be it! lol

It's sort of like putting beans in chili. Real chili doesn't have beans! ;-)

If sliced okra goes into the gumbo pot, it goes in at the end of the cooking process. Keeps the slime to a minimum.

[ThirdMate]

You are right, some “purists” will say thicken with either roux, okra or file, but not in combination.

I ignore the “purists” and use all three, I am not cooking to please some one else’s theoretical notions of gumbo!