Mardi Gras Catfish Gumbo

Savor the flavors of New Orleans with this hearty gumbo. Made easy with convenient canned tomatoes, okra and corn, along with onion, bell pepper and celery this nutritious dish is as colorful as the costumes on Bourbon Street. What a great way to “eat your colors” – a simple nutrition tip for getting the health benefits from a variety of veggies!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 1  small green bell pepper, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped celery
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (14 ounce) can low sodium beef broth
• 1 (14 ounce) can  sliced okra, drained
• 1 (11 ounce) can corn kernels, drained
• 1  bay leaf
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1⁄8-1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1  lb catfish fillet, tilapia or, white fish fillets, cut in 1-inch chunks
•  hot pepper sauce, to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper and celery; cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute.
2. Stir in tomatoes, broth, okra, corn, bay leaf, thyme, salt if desired, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Just before serving, stir in fish and cover. Cook, stirring gently 2 or 3 times, until fish is just cooked through, about 5 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaf and season with hot sauce.