New Orleans Vegetable Stew Food

GOOD NEW ORLEANS CREOLE GUMBO

Steps:

• Make a roux by whisking the flour and 3/4 cup bacon drippings together in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat to form a smooth mixture. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, until it turns a rich mahogany brown color. This can take 20 to 30 minutes; watch heat carefully and whisk constantly or roux will burn. Remove from heat; continue whisking until mixture stops cooking.
• Place the celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse until the vegetables are very finely chopped. Stir the vegetables into the roux, and mix in the sausage. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, and cook until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• Bring the water and beef bouillon cubes to a boil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Stir until the bouillon cubes dissolve, and whisk the roux mixture into the boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer, and mix in the sugar, salt, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, thyme, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer the soup over low heat for 1 hour; mix in 2 teaspoons of file gumbo powder at the 45-minute mark.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in a skillet, and cook the okra with vinegar over medium heat for 15 minutes; remove okra with slotted spoon, and stir into the simmering gumbo. Mix in crabmeat, shrimp, and Worcestershire sauce, and simmer until flavors have blended, 45 more minutes. Just before serving, stir in 2 more teaspoons of file gumbo powder.

NEW ORLEANS VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Bring first 8 ingredients to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potato is tender, about 20 minutes. Add okra and corn and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until thickened to desired consistency, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce.

NEW ORLEANS SHRIMP STEW

Steps:

• Make a roux by heating oil on medium-high heat in stock pot.
• Add flour to hot oil and continually whisk until your roux turn the color of peanut butter.
• Add chopped vegetables and stir immediately.
• Reduce heat to medium. Allow to cook 3 minutes, while stirring every minute.
• Add tomato paste and stir immediately. Allow to cook another 3 minutes, while stirring every minute.
• Slowly add 10 cups of water, chicken bouillon and Creole seasoning. Allow to slowly boil for 1 hour. Stir about every 15 minutes.
• Add raw shrimp and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes.
• Serve over cooked rice and garnish with 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped green onion in each bowl.