Barb's Gumbo

Barb Gertz's Note:

This is my recipe for gumbo. I have made it with shrimp or chicken. We like it either way. You can make it as spicy as you like . We do not care for it to spicy or hot.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1⁄3; cup flour
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 1⁄3; cup celery , chopped
• 1⁄3; cup bell pepper , chopped
• ½ cup yellow onion , chopped
• 3 cloves garlic , chopped fine
• 1 (16 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 3 cups chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon basil
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ½-1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (Tabasco or cayenne pepper or to your taste.)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup canned corn or ½ cup frozen corn
• ¼-½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups okra , sliced (fresh or frozen)
• ½-1 lb shrimp , cleaned & shells off
• rice

Directions:

1. Add oil to skillet, heat over medium heat add the flour, to make a roux.
2. (It is ready when it's color matches that of a penney).
3. This may take about 15 minutes.
4. Stir in onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and black pepper.
5. Cook over medium heat about 3 minutes or till vegetables are crisp tender.
6. Gradually stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, salt, Worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce, corn, okra, Basil, thyme, cumin and bay leaf.
7. Bring to boiling point; reduce heat.
8. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
9. Add SHRIMP during the last 5 minutes.
10. Serve over Rice.
11. This can also be made with chicken, if using chicken.
12. Use chicken breast cut in chunks Add during the last 20 to 30 minute cooking time.
13. Smoked sausage is also good added with the chicken.
14. I have added a can of crabmeat to the shrimp version.

Reviews

[EnjoyingLife]

This was great! I made it with chicken (browned cut up chicken breast before adding to the final 30 minute simmer) but found that meat is the last thing needed. The broth and vegetables are terrific over rice. Even my husband found himself eating around the meat, not because it was not tasty, but because the vegetables were soooo good. We like things a bit spicy so I upped the tabasco to 1 1/2 teaspoons. It left a great taste in your mouth after eating. Thanks so much for the recipe!

[mommyoffour]

WOW....this is a wonderful recipe. I made this last night for my family and we loved it. DH went to the farmers market and brought home some okra and green peppers....hmmmmmm, sounds like gumbo to me...lol. I made your recipe and it had my house smelling so good. I did add chicken breast and andouille (sp?) sausage along with the shrimp. We loved it. The only thing I would do differently is use chicken thighs instead of the breasts....I just think it would hold up better, other then that the recipe is the best! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.....we LOVED it.

[Jeanene_in_Annapolis]

Real good, Barb! The reoux was perfect! The penny technique was helpful! I added about 4 oz. of tomato paste in addition to the tomatoes - I like my gumbo kinda "tomatoey". I left out the cumin, and double up on the Tabasco (mmmm...) Recipe was easy easy easy...To get a really good flavor, and to soften the veggies completely - I simmered for like two hours. YUM. This goes in my cookbook!! I used chicken and shrimp, and added it according to Barb's directions, and it was perfect!