Ultimate Gulf Coast Gumbo Food

GULF COAST GUMBO

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the crayfish a little at a time so as not to stop the boil, and let cook until pink. Using a slotted spoon remove the crayfish and set aside until they are cool enough to handle. (Skim off and discard any impurities that have risen to the surface of the stock.) Now, remove the shells from the shrimp and add the shells to the pot of chicken stock, reserving the uncooked shrimp on a utility platter. Allow the shrimp shells to cook in the broth until pink, then strain the stock into another container and discard the shells.
• While the shrimp shells are boiling, heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage and remove to a platter until it is cool enough to handle. In the sausage drippings over medium heat, saute the onion, celery, and green bell pepper until the onion turns translucent. Reduce the heat and whisk in the flour to make a roux, and let cook for about 15 minutes until it becomes a brown roux.
• While the roux is browning, slice the sausage into 1/4 to 1/2-inch pieces. Put the tomato paste in a small bowl and add some of the warm stock to make a slurry. Gradually whisk the warm stock and the tomato paste into the roux. Add the garlic powder, crushed red pepper, okra, 1 tablespoon parsley, scallions, red bell pepper, tomatoes and sausage. Cook over low heat until the okra - which contains a thickening agent - is tender, about 15 minutes, and the sausage is cooked through. While the mixture is cooking, remove the crayfish from their shells. (This is done by cracking the tail with both hands and forcing it back out through the curve of the tail.) Add the oysters and shrimp to the pot and cook about 5 minutes until the oysters are plump and the shrimp are pink. Stir in crayfish. Remove pot from heat and carefully fold in crab, trying not to break up the lumps.
• To serve, place some rice on serving dish and spoon some gumbo over. Sprinkle with file powder and garnish with remaining parsley.

ULTIMATE GULF COAST GUMBO

Steps:

• Peel and devein the shrimp and place in the refrigerator. Place shrimp heads and shells in a large pot, and cover with 2 quarts of water. Cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until liquid is reduced by half. Strain out and discard shrimp heads and shells. Reserve shrimp broth.
• Heat oil in a very large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir in flour with a long-handled spoon. Cook and stir for several minutes until dark brown and flour is puffing and absorbing the oil. Slowly stir in chicken broth and an equal amount of water. Place chicken in the pot. Add onions, celery, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, Old Bay seasoning, and salt. Boil until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove chicken from the pot, and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove and discard bones, and chop chicken into 1 inch pieces.
• Return chicken back to the pot, along with reserved shrimp broth, crab meat, sausage, and shrimp. Add the file powder, and stir from the bottom of the pot. When the gumbo comes to a boil, remove from heat. Continue to stir from the bottom for 1 minute. Serve.

GULF COAST SHRIMP GUMBO

Steps:

• Make a roux-heat 4 tablespoons oil in a medium, heavy skillet set over medium heat.
• When hot, add flour and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens and turns a deep reddish brown, 6-8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to a large heavy, deep sided pot set over med-high heat.
• When hot, add in onion, celery, carrot, and red bell pepper.
• Saute, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
• Add in garlic and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Stir in cayenne, thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Add stock, tomatoes, parsley, and bay leaves; bring mixture to a simmer.
• Decrease heat to low so that mixture stays at a simmer, then whisk in the roux.
• Simmer gumbo until vegetables are tender and mixture has thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over med-high heat.
• When hot, add the okra and saute, stirring, until just lightly browned around the edges, 4-5 minutes.
• Add okra and sausage to the gumbo after it has simmered 20 minutes.
• Cook 1 minute to heat through.
• When ready to serve, add shrimp to the gumbo and cook until the shrimp curl and turn pink, about 3 minutes (do not overcook the shrimp).
• Taste gumbo and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• If gumbo is too thick, thin it with extra stock to desired consistency.
• To serve, place about 2/3 cup rice in 6 shallow soup bowls and ladle gumbo over rice.

ULTIMATE TIME-CONSUMING SEAFOOD GUMBO

Steps:

• STOCK: Bake shrimp shells at 375 degrees F until dried and starting to brown on edges.
• About 15 to 20 minutes.
• Put everything into an 8-quart pot and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and cook 5 hours, uncovered.
• When stock is cooled, drain all liquid from the vegetables (I squeezed by hand), then discard all solids.
• GUMBO: Combine the cayenne, white and black peppers, paprika, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and salt in small bowl.
• In a heavy pot, 6 quart or larger, heat oil over medium heat until hot.
• Add onions, celery, and green bell peppers.
• Turn heat to high, stirring frequently.
• Add garlic, file powder, and the pepper-herb mixture.
• Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add tomato sauce and stock, bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add okra and sausage and simmer for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• When ready to serve, add all seafood and cook for 3 minutes.
• Turn off heat, and let stand for 10 minutes, covered.
• Serve over long-grain rice.