Gumbo

Gumbo 

You are already thinking roux aren’t you?  Well, forget that.  Now I take it as a challenge to make a good roux, but these are not the times for extra challenges!  For this pot of fabulous, let’s take it easy on ourselves.  You will be surprised at how MUCH this makes (5 32oz containers) and how good it is.  Now, if you are from the New Orleans area and want to set me straight about how this is not authentic, save it.  For the rest of you who are living off cans, avoiding stores/crowds, and who want to make your kitchen table a solace to your family, check the comments for a good time!

Your first friend is a box of Zatarans Gumbo mix – actually to make the volume I said earlier, add two boxes to a big pot/Dutch oven.  Then stir in two boxes of chicken broth.  That is a bit more than the Zatarans box calls for, but they are not the boss of us.  

While that is simmering, stir it with a whisk.  The gumbo mix wants to clump and otherwise act unruly.  

In a black skillet, add diced Kielbasa (a whole pack).  Brown it nicely (remember, browned meat is where the flavor comes from) and then add to the gumbo/chicken broth mixture.  

To that pot, add one can diced tomatoes, some onion powder, and some cayenne pepper.  Keep a nice simmer going while you get the chicken ready to add.  You can cook your own and generate your own chicken broth or you can add canned cooked chicken, or even rotisserie chicken.  Go ahead and dump at least 2 cups of chicken (bite-sized) into the pot.  These flavors need to learn to make nice with each other so cook this for a while (longer the better) – not on high heat and remember that if you do stir it frequently the gumbo mix will clump/stick.  Bugger. 

You can stop there … OR you can seafood this thing up with some shrimp!  I use previously frozen shrimp that I have thawed and removed the shells from.  Rinse the shrimp and then when you think the pot has simmered long enough, add the raw shrimp to the mixture.  Use as much or as little shrimp as suits your fancy and your budget.  

Ladle that yumminess up and add a few tablespoons of cooked rice right in the middle of it.  Crackers are usually eaten or crusty bread.  Just the smell of this cooking in your house will draw family to your kitchen. Prepare for accolades and hero worship.  Bask in the glow!  This is better reheated the NEXT day – just in time for you to decide who you are going to share this with.