Louisiana Gumbo

Chef Jeff Garland's Note:

The best gumbo I have ever tasted. Mom always made it and still does. I have made some mild changes from the original as she never makes it the same way twice.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 24.0 cups

• 1 chicken
• 2 lbs breakfast sausage (Hot)
• 3 lbs shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1 lb crawfish tail (peeled)
• 1 lb okra
• 8 ounces clam juice
• 4 bell peppers
• 2 chili peppers (Cayenne)
• 3 tablespoons ground sage
• 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon gumbo file
• ½ cup flour

Directions:

1. In a large (I mean large) stockpot boil chicken (completely covered by 2 inches of water), chopped okra, 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.
2. 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.
3. Chop bell peppers and cayennes at this time. Add to pot and let simmer 10 minutes.
4. Add shrimp, clam juice, crawfish tails to the pot and let simmer 15 minutes.
5. Add the chicken and gumbo file to the pot and bring to a boil.
6. 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.
7. This gumbo only gets better the next day. It freezes well to make a quick simple meal anytime.

Reviews

[Bogey'sMom]

Yum yum yum yum yum. Slurp slurp. Yum yum yum yum yum. Except for (slurp slurp) the crawfish tails, I (slurp, burp), made this by the recipe. Pass the cornbread and leave me be with my gumbo.