Roux-Based Authentic Seafood Gumbo with Okra

Description

This from-scratch gumbo takes a little bit of time, but is well worth the effort! No bouillon, chopped tomatoes, chicken, sausage, or bacon here! Impress your Cajun friends with this wonderful gumbo. Serve over white rice with a side of French bread. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®), or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 pound frozen chopped okra
  • 1 pound catfish, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 ½ pounds peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon gumbo file powder, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Put flour into a Dutch oven or large heavy pot and add flour. Turn heat to medium-high
  2. put the pot on the burner
  3. and cook
  4. stirring constantly with a wooden spoon
  5. until thick and bubbly
  6. has a ‘peanutty’ smell
  7. and is dark brown
  8. about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool and thicken.
  9. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir celery
  10. green onions
  11. and bell pepper in hot butter until tender
  12. about 10 minutes; add to pot with the roux.
  13. Stir water
  14. tomato sauce
  15. Worcestershire sauce
  16. garlic
  17. 2 teaspoons salt
  18. hot pepper sauce
  19. and thyme into the vegetable mixture. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil
  20. reduce heat to medium-low
  21. and simmer for 1 hour.
  22. Stir okra into the vegetable mixture and cook until tender
  23. about 15 minutes. Add catfish
  24. stir gently
  25. and cook until the flesh is easily flaked with a fork
  26. about 5 minutes. Gently stir shrimp into the mixture; cook until the shrimp are bright pink
  27. about 3 minutes. Season with the file powder and salt; stir.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins

Servings: 8

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