Gumbo

About

Brenda Gantt

I am a self-taught cook. I started cooking around 18 years old. I stood in the kitchen and watched my mother, who was my biggest inspiration at the time, cook.

Servings: 8

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled
  • 1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup almond flour
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh garlic
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups sliced okra
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp. hot sauce

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In a large pot, sauté the chicken on high heat until browned. Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside.
  2. Chop the onions, celery, and green pepper, and set them aside.
  3. Place coconut oil and almond flour in the pot. Stir well and brown to make a roux. When the roux is done, add the chopped vegetables. Sauté on low heat for 10 minutes.
  4. Slowly add the chicken broth to the pot, stirring constantly.
  5. Add the browned chicken and all other ingredients except the okra, shrimp, and parsley. Save those for the end.
  6. Cover the pot and simmer on low for half an hour. Then, remove the lid and cook for another half an hour, stirring occasionally.
  7. Add the shrimp, okra, and parsley to the pot. Continue to cook on low heat, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

 

ALLERGIES:

SF (Shellfish-Free)

GF (Gluten-Free)

DF (Dairy-Free)

EF (Egg-Free)

NF (Nut-Free)

 

Here are some variations of the shrimp and chicken gumbo recipe:

  1. Seafood Gumbo: Replace the chicken with an assortment of seafood like crab meat, crawfish, and clams. You can also use fish fillets or scallops. Adjust the cooking time for different seafood ingredients.
  2. Vegetarian Gumbo: Omit the shrimp and chicken, and add more vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms. You can use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to keep it vegetarian.
  3. Spicy Gumbo: Increase the amount of red pepper or add hot pepper sauce to make the gumbo spicier. You can also add some chopped jalapeños or chili peppers for an extra kick.
  4. Cajun Gumbo: Use Cajun spices like Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and dried thyme to give the gumbo a traditional Cajun flavor.
  5. Sausage Gumbo: Add sliced smoked sausage or Andouille sausage along with the chicken for a smoky and savory flavor.
  6. Creole Gumbo: Add some Creole seasoning, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce for a distinct Creole-style gumbo.
  7. Tomato-based Gumbo: Increase the amount of diced tomatoes or add tomato sauce to give the gumbo a richer tomato flavor.
  8. Coconut Milk Gumbo: Use more coconut milk to make the gumbo creamier and add a subtle coconut flavor.
  9. Gumbo with Greens: Add more greens like collard greens, kale, or spinach for extra nutrition and texture.
  10. Gumbo with Okra and Filé Powder: Incorporate both sliced okra and filé powder, a traditional gumbo thickener, to enhance the gumbo’s consistency and flavor.
  11. Gumbo with Beer: Incorporate a splash of your favorite beer to add depth and complexity to the gumbo’s flavor profile.
  12. Gumbo with Bacon: Fry some chopped bacon before sautéing the chicken for an extra layer of savory goodness.
  13. Gumbo with Sweet Potatoes: Dice some sweet potatoes and add them to the gumbo for a touch of sweetness and extra heartiness.
  14. Gumbo with Corn: Add fresh or frozen corn kernels to the gumbo for a burst of sweetness and texture.
  15. Gumbo with Gumbo File: Instead of okra, use gumbo file (ground sassafras leaves) as a thickening agent and flavor enhancer.

 

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