Shrimp and Crab Gumbo over Cheese Grits

This recipe is from Coastal Living. I like gumbo, all kinds of gumbo, but I needed to make gumbo with much less heat and chose this recipe to highlight the sweetness of shrimp and crab. If you like more heat, adjust with hot pepper sauce at the table. Cook grits according to package direction and add 1 C cheese of your choice right before serving. I added 1/2 gruyere and 1/2 comte cheese. For this recipe, I chose Dungeness crab legs and claws that have been smashed with a hammer a bit to take in juice from the gumbo. You can also use stone crab claws too. Any kind of crab will do.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄4  vegetable oil, divided
• 12  ounces andouille sausages, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 onion, chopped (large)
• 1  red bell pepper, chopped
• 1  green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 celery ribs, chopped
• 5  garlic cloves, minced
• 3  cups  fish stock or 3  cups chicken broth
• 2 (14 1/2ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1⁄2 lb fresh okra, thinly sliced
• 6  fresh thyme sprigs
• 2  bay leaves
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄8-1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 -2  teaspoon file powder (optional)
• 2  teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1  cup grits (quick cooking or stoned ground)
• 1  lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1  lb  crab, cut into sections and smashed a bit
•  hot sauce (optional)

Directions

1. Heat 1 T oil in a large soup pot over medium high heat. Add sausage, and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until browned on all sides. Transfer sausages to a plate.
2. Add remaining oil to drippings in pot to equal 1/4 C cup. Whisk in flour Cook over low heat, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes or until mixture is dark reddish-brown.
3. Stir in onion, peppers, celery and garlic and saute over medium heat for 8 minutes or until softened. Stir in stock and next 9 ingredients . Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile cook grits according to package directions and and cheese. Cover and keep warm.
5. Stir in sausage, shrimp, and crab sections and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until shrimp are just done. Do not overcook. Remove bay leaves and serve gumbo over cheese grits. Season with hot sauce if desired.