Chicken & Sausage Gumbo - the Hard Way

Warms you to the bones on a chilly day. Make a big pot and eat all week.

• Ready In: 1 hr 50 mins
• Yields: 12 Bowls

Ingredients

• 2  lbs dark chicken meat
• 2  lbs smoked sausage, sliced
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 1  red bell pepper, chopped
• 1  green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 -4  celery ribs, chopped
• 1⁄2 lb bacon
• 1  cup flour
• 8  ounces okra, sliced (optional)
• 8  cups cooked rice
• 2  bay leaves
• 1  tablespoon season salt, Tony Chachere
• 3 -4  quarts water

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400F (200C) -- Arrange chicken in pan. Bake chicken for 50 minutes.
2. Fry bacon in batches -- preferrably in a cast iron skillet, collect grease. Bacon should be slightly crispy but not brittle.
3. Chop veggies, Slice Sausage -- While you are frying bacon, be chopping up all your vegetables. Mix in a large mixing bowl.
4. Make a Roux -- The bacon should be about done. Reduce heat to MED-LOW. Using a wisk or flat wooden ladle, sprinkle in flour stirring constantly. Be sure to stir the whole bottom of the skillet at least 2-3 times a minute.
5. Cool the Roux -- When the roux is the color of milk chocolate you are done (about 10-15 minutes depending on your stove). Add about half the veggies. Mix well. This should stop the roux from cooking. Saute until onions are clear.
6. Put it all in the pot -- Transfer the roux to a large stock pot, add remaining vegetables, bacon, sausage, bay leaves and season salt and 3-4 quarts of water. Bring to a boil on HIGH, stirring every few minutes. Reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 30-60 minutes.
7. Add the chicken -- The chicken should be out of the oven by now, you can debone or simply drop in the gumbo as soon as it comes out.
8. Skim oil from the top of the gumbo before serving. Serve over steamed rice. Top with hot sauce, file, season salt, chopped green onions.
9. Recommended sides: potato salad, french bread, crackers, more gumbo.