Wild Game Gumbo

ratherbeswimmin''s Note:

Wild game hunting is a tradition with the males in my family. During my childhood, wild game was the about only meat we had to eat so I have a great appreciation for it. This is one of my dad's favorite things to make. He takes two days to make it. Recipe adapted from Southern Living.

• Total Time: 6 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 4 1/2 qua ...

• 2 quarts water
• 1 broiler-fryer chicken
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 8 dove breasts (about 1 pound)
• 1 lb venison roast , cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 squirrel , dressed and cut into pieces
• 1 rabbit , dressed and quartered (about 2 pounds)
• 2 quail , dressed
• 1 small onion
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ lbs smoked link sausage , cut into 1/2 inch slices
• ¼ cup bacon drippings
• ½ cup flour
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 -3 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• hot cooked rice

Directions:

1. Add 2 quarts of water, chicken, and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt to a large pot.
2. Bring to a boil; cover, lower heat, and simmer 1 hour or until chicken is tender.
3. Take chicken from stock pot; chill broth, then remove fat from broth.
4. Remove chicken meat from bones; chop into bite-size pieces; set aside.
5. Add dove breasts and next 9 ingredients to a large pot; add water to cover.
6. Bring to a boil; cover, lower heat, and simmer for 2 hours.
7. Take meat out of broth; strain broth and set aside.
8. Remove meat from bones and chop into bite-size pieces; set aside.
9. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium heat.
10. Transfer sausage to a paper-towel lined plate.
11. Add bacon drippings to sausage drippings; heat over medium heat until hot.
12. Add in flour; cook, stirring constantly until the color of caramel (about 20 mintes) (this is the roux).
13. Add onion, celery, and pepper; cook/stir 10 minutes.
14. Add roux to the chicken stock in a large pot; cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
15. Add game meat, sausage, chicken, hot sauce, cayenne, and Worcestershire sauce; stir to combine.
16. Add reserve game stock if more liquid is needed; simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours; stir occasionally.
17. Remove bay leaf; serve over hot cooked rice.