My Louisiana Grandmother's Gumbo My Version: A Culinary Journey Through History and Heritage. In the heart of Louisiana, where the bayous flow and the air is filled with the scent of magnolia blossoms, there lies a rich culinary tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Gumbo, a hearty and flavorful stew, is a quintessential dish that embodies the essence of Louisiana's diverse heritage. My grandmother's gumbo recipe, a cherished family heirloom, is a testament to the love, patience, and artistry that goes into creating this iconic dish.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
LOUISIANA GUMBO
The best gumbo I have ever tasted. Mom always made it and still does. I have made some mild changes from the original as she never makes it the same way twice.
Provided by Chef Jeff Garland
Categories Gumbo
Time 2h45m
Yield 24 cups, 24 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large (I mean large) stockpot boil chicken (completely covered by 2 inches of water), chopped okra, celery, sage, bouillon, oregano, black pepper until chicken is done. Remove chicken and set aside to cool, leave the stock in the pot. When cool debone the chicken and shred the meat. Set aside for now.
- Crumble sausage and fry in a skillet. Remove sausage and set aside. Reserve 1/2 cup of the drippings. Add flour and make a very dark roux (dark brown). Add the sausage and roux to the chicken broth and let simmer 10 minutes.
- Chop bell peppers and cayennes at this time. Add to pot and let simmer 10 minutes.
- Add shrimp, clam juice, crawfish tails to the pot and let simmer 15 minutes.
- Add the chicken and gumbo file to the pot and bring to a boil.
- I like to let this gumbo rest for a few hours and then reheat it before serving. Serve over rice with crackers and Louisiana hot sauce.
- This gumbo only gets better the next day. It freezes well to make a quick simple meal anytime.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.7, Fat 14.5, SaturatedFat 4.4, Cholesterol 137.6, Sodium 681.5, Carbohydrate 6.6, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 1.4, Protein 22.4
HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER'S SHRIMP GUMBO
My husband's grandmother taught me this recipe. She actually cooked for Cajun festivals. She used 40-gallon trash cans for her stock pots. People would line up for this authentic Cajun specialty. This recipe serves eight but multiplies well. Serve gumbo over cooked white rice.
Provided by ranch_maven
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Gumbo Recipes
Time 3h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, discard the fat in the skillet, and drain the sausage slices on paper towels to absorb any excess grease. Set the sausage aside. Cook and stir the chopped bacon in the skillet until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes, remove the bacon, and set aside. Stir the okra into the hot bacon drippings, and cook and stir until the okra is tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the okra in a colander, and discard bacon drippings.
- Place the okra and diced tomatoes in a saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer the okra mixture for about 10 minutes.
- In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion, green onions, green pepper, celery, parsley, and garlic until the onion begins to turn brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the vegetables but leave the butter in the pot. Stir in the flour, reduce heat to low, and cook the roux, stirring constantly, until it turns the color of milk chocolate, 30 to 45 minutes. Do not let the roux burn.
- When the roux reaches its correct color, whisk in 2 cups of water. Raise the heat to medium; stir in salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, and bay leaves, bring the mixture to a boil, and stir in the sausage, bacon, okra-tomato mixture, and 6 more cups of water. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer the gumbo, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened and the flavors are blended, about 45 minutes. Stir in the shrimp, and simmer until they turn pink and opaque, 6 to 8 more minutes. Discard bay leaves and adjust the seasonings, if desired, before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 343.5 calories, Carbohydrate 12.6 g, Cholesterol 164.7 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 23.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 922 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
MY LOUISIANA GRANDMOTHER'S GUMBO (MY VERSION)
When you're cold and damp, this creole stew warms the bones. I took some liberties with her version which was, originally, my Louisiana Great- Grandmother's (circa 1929). I just made some yesterday, chilled it overnight to marry the flavors, and am SO looking forward to tasting it for dinner tonight! You do NOT have to rest it OVERNIGHT. It can be eaten as soon as ready! Enjoy!
Provided by Marcinho Savant
Categories Gumbo
Time 1h15m
Yield 2 gallons (Approximately), 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Take a thigh/leg portion and separate the drumstick from the thigh.
- Skin all or half of the chicken pieces.
- Broil off the chicken and sausage until well-browned.
- Cut the sausages into 1/2" slices.
- Add olive oil and butter to a 5 to 6 quart pot on low heat.
- Add 1/3 c flour, the cayenne, nutmeg and wisk gently and quickly until it begins to thicken.
- Add enough juice from the tomatoes to stop the thickening and add the chicken and sausage pieces to the pot.
- Add all the tomatoes, the okra and the rough cut onions .
- Use the tomato can to add water to the pot to just cover the contents of the pot and bring to a boil.
- Using a wooden or plastic spoon that reaches the bottom of the pot and gently loosen any flour which begins to stick to the bottom.
- Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is almost falling off the bone.
- Adjust seasonings to taste and stir occasionally.
- Serve in big bowls and top with boiled rice.
- NOTE: SMALL BONE FRAGMENTS will be present so take care to screen each mouthful before chewing! Nice to have bread plates or saucers for each guest so that they can discard any bones.
- Great with a crispy warm, buttered baguette or garlic bread.
- VARIATIONS:.
- You can pull the chicken off the bone after broiling and cooling and add to the simmering pot until fully cooked and tender.
- We frequently add shelled, jumbo deveined shrimp to the ingredient list.
- Would translate to a slow-cooker easily if you don't require the meats to be broiled first.
MY GRANDMOTHER'S GUMBO - AS NEAR AS I CAN REMEMBER
My grandmother used to make a wonderful gumbo - but over the years the recipe has been lost. After a lot of emails to family members, and research on-line and in cookbooks, I came up with this version. My grandmother always started with a whole chicken and made the stock herself. If you are pressed for time, you can use prepared chicken broth - but I promise you - it won't be as good. Gumbo tastes best if it is made at least one day in advance and then chilled. This allows the flavors to meld. This is a fiddly recipe, and it takes a lot of time. But the results are more than worth the trouble, I promise.
Provided by Ex-Pat Mama
Categories Gumbo
Time 4h30m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Place the Chicken, water, onion, celery, carrot, parsley, bay leaves and salt and pepper into a large stock pot. Bring almost to a boil. Cover and turn the temperature very low. Allow to cook, skimming off the froth occasionally, for about an hour.
- Cool the broth slightly and then strain - pressing out as much water from the meat as possible. Remove the chicken meat and reserve for later. Set the broth aside for later. Discard all of the remaining solids. These steps can be done early in the day or the day ahead.
- Make a roux: Melt the 5 tablespoons of butter in a very large soup pot over medium low heat. Stir in the flour and continue stirring until the roux is a deep coppery color - this takes up to 15 minutes. If you burn it, throw it away and begin again. The scorched taste will ruin your gumbo.
- Add the onion to the roux. Cook 2-3 minutes until soft, stirring almost constantly.
- Add the green pepper and celery. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring almost constantly.
- Add the okra and parsley. Cook 3 - 5 minutes, stirring frequently. If it sticks to the pan too much, toss in 1/4 of water.
- Add the tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper, and bay leaves.
- Add the reserved chicken broth back to the pot. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower the temperature and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
- At this point I let the gumbo cool down and then set the whole thing in the fridge at least over night.
- Return the soup to the stove top. Add in the reserved chicken and the shrimp. Heat through and serve over rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 454.3, Fat 27.3, SaturatedFat 9.7, Cholesterol 212.9, Sodium 608.1, Carbohydrate 13.3, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 4.4, Protein 38.1
HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER'S SHRIMP GUMBO RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by á-72953
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, discard the fat in the skillet, and drain the sausage slices on paper towels to absorb any excess grease. Set the sausage aside. Cook and stir the chopped bacon in the skillet until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes, remove the bacon, and set aside. Stir the okra into the hot bacon drippings, and cook and stir until the okra is tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the okra in a colander and discard bacon drippings. Place the okra and diced tomatoes in a saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer the okra mixture for about 10 minutes. In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion, green onions, green pepper, celery, parsley and garlic until the onion begins to turn brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the vegetables but leave the butter in the pot. Stir in the flour, reduce heat to low, and cook the roux, stirring constantly, until it turns the color of milk chocolate, 30 to 45 minutes. Do not let the roux burn. When the roux reaches its correct color, whisk in 2 cups water. Raise the heat to medium; stir in salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, and bay leaves, bring the mixture to a boil, and stir in the sausage, bacon, okra-tomato mixture, and 6 more cups of water. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer the gumbo, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened and the flavors are blended, about 45 minutes. Stir in the shrimp, and simmer until they turn pink and opaque, 6 to 8 more minutes. Discard bay leaves and adjust the seasonings, if desired, before serving.
Tips:
- Mise en place. Have all of your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking. This will make the process much smoother and less stressful.
- Use a good quality stock. The stock is the base of your gumbo, so it's important to use a good one. If you can, make your own stock using chicken, shrimp, or crab shells. If you're short on time, you can use a good quality store-bought stock.
- Don't crowd the pot. When adding the chicken, shrimp, and sausage to the pot, don't crowd them. Give them some room to cook evenly.
- Cook the roux slowly. The roux is the thickening agent for your gumbo. It's important to cook it slowly over low heat until it reaches a dark chocolate color. This will give your gumbo a rich, flavorful base.
- Add the vegetables in stages. Add the vegetables to the pot in stages, starting with the onions and celery. This will help to prevent them from becoming overcooked.
- Don't overcook the seafood. The seafood in your gumbo should be cooked just until it's opaque. Overcooking will make it tough and rubbery.
- Serve with rice. Gumbo is traditionally served with rice. You can use white rice, brown rice, or even dirty rice.
Conclusion:
My Louisiana Grandmother's Gumbo is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It's also a great way to use up leftover chicken, shrimp, and sausage. With a few simple tips, you can make a pot of gumbo that your family and friends will love.
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