Sass!

Gumbo has been a traditional Cajun food for generations. In its basic form, gumbo is a soup that is made from a strong stock, various meats (shrimp, chicken, crawfish, sausage, and many others), a thickener (either okra, only roux, or file’ powder), and various vegetables such as celery, bell peppers, and onions. Regardless of how you prepare a gumbo, it should always be served with rice. While gumbo can be eaten at any time (we do), many people enjoy it during cold weather.

A ROUX, used as a thickening agent, is achieved by cooking flour and a fat (butter or vegetable oil) together. The rich nuttiness of the roux intensifies with cooking, which also affects its color. A roux is used in various recipes; different colors are desired for different dishes. Some use a peanut butter colored roux, while others strive for an almost black roux. We like a black roux, the darker the better. Our MaMa Hazel makes the best roux and Gumbo!

Get-

1 (3 pound) whole chicken

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 pound andouille or smoked sausage, sliced 1/4 inch thick

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (such as Slap Ya Mama), or to taste

2 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves

½ cup chopped green onions

2 whole bay leaves

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

salt and black pepper to taste

Louisiana Hot Sauce

White Rice

Make the gumbo-

Fill a large pot partially with salted water, and place the chicken in the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook the chicken until the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 1 hour. Remove the chicken from the broth, and crack open the carcass to allow the chicken to cool. Reserve the chicken broth. After the chicken has cooled enough to handle, pick the meat from the bones, and set aside.

While the chicken is simmering, make a roux by whisking together the flour and vegetable oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir the mixture, watching constantly to avoid burning, until the roux is a rich chocolate brown color, 20 to 30 minutes.

As soon as the roux has reached the desired color, stir in the onions, bell peppers, celery, Cajun seasoning, and bay leaves, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes. Pour in the reserved chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and sausage, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened, about 1 hour.

Return the meat to the gumbo and stir in the green onions andbparsley, bring back to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally until the flavors have blended, 30 to 40 minutes.

Spoon rice into the bottom of deep bowls or large cups and ladle the gumbo on top. Serve, passing hot sauce on the side.

White Rice:
What you will need-

2 cups long-grain white rice

4 cups water or chicken stock

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Make the rice-
In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the rice, water, salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let sit, covered and undisturbed, for 5 minutes.