American Kitchen Classic Louisiana Gumbo Food

MY LOUISIANA GRANDMOTHER'S GUMBO (MY VERSION)

Steps:

• Take a thigh/leg portion and separate the drumstick from the thigh.
• Skin all or half of the chicken pieces.
• Broil off the chicken and sausage until well-browned.
• Cut the sausages into 1/2" slices.
• Add olive oil and butter to a 5 to 6 quart pot on low heat.
• Add 1/3 c flour, the cayenne, nutmeg and wisk gently and quickly until it begins to thicken.
• Add enough juice from the tomatoes to stop the thickening and add the chicken and sausage pieces to the pot.
• Add all the tomatoes, the okra and the rough cut onions .
• Use the tomato can to add water to the pot to just cover the contents of the pot and bring to a boil.
• Using a wooden or plastic spoon that reaches the bottom of the pot and gently loosen any flour which begins to stick to the bottom.
• Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is almost falling off the bone.
• Adjust seasonings to taste and stir occasionally.
• Serve in big bowls and top with boiled rice.
• NOTE: SMALL BONE FRAGMENTS will be present so take care to screen each mouthful before chewing! Nice to have bread plates or saucers for each guest so that they can discard any bones.
• Great with a crispy warm, buttered baguette or garlic bread.
• VARIATIONS:.
• You can pull the chicken off the bone after broiling and cooling and add to the simmering pot until fully cooked and tender.
• We frequently add shelled, jumbo deveined shrimp to the ingredient list.
• Would translate to a slow-cooker easily if you don't require the meats to be broiled first.

LOUISIANA GUMBO

Steps:

• In a large (I mean large) stockpot boil chicken (completely covered by 2 inches of water), chopped okra, celery, sage, bouillon, oregano, black pepper until chicken is done. Remove chicken and set aside to cool, leave the stock in the pot. When cool debone the chicken and shred the meat. Set aside for now.
• Crumble sausage and fry in a skillet. Remove sausage and set aside. Reserve 1/2 cup of the drippings. Add flour and make a very dark roux (dark brown). Add the sausage and roux to the chicken broth and let simmer 10 minutes.
• Chop bell peppers and cayennes at this time. Add to pot and let simmer 10 minutes.
• Add shrimp, clam juice, crawfish tails to the pot and let simmer 15 minutes.
• Add the chicken and gumbo file to the pot and bring to a boil.
• I like to let this gumbo rest for a few hours and then reheat it before serving. Serve over rice with crackers and Louisiana hot sauce.
• This gumbo only gets better the next day. It freezes well to make a quick simple meal anytime.

KITCHEN SINK GUMBO

Steps:

• Pre Cook the Rice.
• Make a dark roux by heating a large skillet over high heat.
• Then add 2 tablespoons oil and flour to the pan, and whisk together quickly.
• Continue cooking and stirring until a darkened paste forms.
• Cook Chicken.
• Stir in shrimp and sausage.
• Cook and stir for a few minutes, until the shrimp turns pink.
• Set aside.
• In another pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat.
• Stir in okra and onion; cook until okra is tender.
• Mix in tomatoes.
• Add water, bay leaf, garlic, salt, red pepper, corn, cooked rice, and meats.
• Cover, and cook slowly for 30 minutes.

SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE GUMBO WITH OKRA - AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN

Steps:

• Bring reserved shrimp shells and 4 1/2 cups wter to boil in stockpot or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 20 minutes. Strain stock and add clam juice and ice water (you should have about 2 quarts of tepid stock, 100 to 110 degrees); discard shells. Set stock mixture aside.
• Heat oil in Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed sauce-pan over medium-high heat until it registers 200 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and stir in flour gradually with wooden spatula or spoon, working out any small lumps. Continue stirring constantly, reaching into corners of pan, until mixture has a toasty aroma and is deep reddish brown, about the color of an old copper penny or between the colors of milk chocolate and dark chocolate, about 20 minutes. (The roux will thin as it cooks; if it begins to smoke, remove from heat and stir constantly to cool slightly.).
• Add onion, bell pepper, clelery, okra, garlic, thyme, salt, and cayenne; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables soften, 8 to 10 minutes (or 10 to 15 minutes if using fresh okra.) Add 1 quart reserved stock mixture in slow, steady stream, stirring vigorously. Stir in remaining quart stock mixture. Increase heat to high; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, skim off foam on surface, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in sausage; continue simmering to blend flavors, about 30 minutes longer. Stir in shrimp; simmer until cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Off heat, stir in parsley and scallions, adjust seasonings to taste with salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne; serve (traditionally gumbo is served over white rice.).
• Roux Making Tip: Luke warm stock and constant stirring are keys to the right consistency.

CHICKEN & SHRIMP GUMBO

Steps:

• Heat a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the flour turns a deep golden color, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the flour to a plate and let cool. (There will be a strong aroma similar to burnt toast. Be careful not to let the flour burn; reduce the heat if flour seems to be browning too quickly.) Alternately, toast the flour in a pie plate in a 400 degrees F oven for 20 minutes.
• Heat oil in a heavy stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic; sauté until the onions are lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in the toasted flour. Gradually stir in broth and bring to a simmer, stirring. Add tomatoes, okra, pepper, thyme, oregano, cayenne and bay leaf. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Stir in rice and cook, covered, for 15 minutes longer.
• Add shrimp, chicken and sausage; simmer until the shrimp is opaque inside, the chicken is no longer pink and the rice is tender, about 5 minutes longer. Discard the bay leaf and season with salt. Ladle into bowls.

AMERICAN KITCHEN CLASSIC LOUISIANA GUMBO

Steps:

• Heat large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. When hot, add sausage and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage browns. Remove sausage from pan; set aside.
• Add chicken to pan; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned (bottom of pan will be brown). Remove from pan; set aside.
• Add butter to pan; when melted, stir in flour and cook 10 minutes or until mixture is golden brown and nutty in aroma, stirring constantly. If it burns even slightly, throw it out and start over again.
• Add onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic to pan; stir to combine. Add broth and undrained tomatoes; bring mixture to a boil.
• Simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and red pepper. Add shrimp and okra to pan; cook 5 to 7 minutes more or until shrimp are pink and okra is warmed through.
• Return chicken and sausage to pan; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. Remove from heat; stir in file powder just before serving. Serve over rice, if desired.

CLASSIC CHICKEN GUMBO RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Peel and chop the onions .
• Cut the bell pepper in half lengthwise; remove the seeds and stem. Cut the pepper into 1/4-inch dice.
• Chop the celery. Set the vegetables aside.
• For the roux , melt the shortening in a large Dutch oven over low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until medium brown-about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir the roux constantly to avoid burning. If it burns, you will have to start over.
• Add the chopped vegetables to the roux, adjust the heat to medium-low to medium, and continue to cook, constantly stirring, until the onion is translucent.
• Slowly add the chicken stock and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Add the diced tomatoes, okra, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, cayenne, and bay leaf; bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice following the package directions. Set aside and keep warm.
• Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Add the chicken to the soup and cook, covered, for 6 to 8 minutes longer, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings with more salt and pepper, as needed.
• To serve, scoop a mound of rice into the center of each of the four large, shallow bowls. Ladle the soup around the rice. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and/or green onion tops, if desired.