Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup cooking oil (or butter)
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups green bell peppers
• 1-2 jalapeno pepper (optional)
• 2-4 celery ribs
• 1 lb andouille sausage (or smoked sausage if you can't get smoked andoulle)
• 1 lb shrimp, cooked (optional)
• 1 1/2 lbs chicken, cooked
• oregano
• basil
• thyme
• 4 garlic cloves
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• black pepper
• white pepper
• ground red pepper
• paprika
• 2-4 cups water
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon file powder (use corn starch to thicken if you can't find the file)

Directions

1. 1

   Make the Roux. In a small sauce pan combine oil and flour and cook on medium stirring constantly until the mixture turns dark brown like melted chocolate. Heat it slowly or it will burn -- don't be tempted to crank up the heat to make it cook faster, this will take 15-20 minutes. If it starts to smoke, you're are on the verge of burning it, so turn the heat down as far as it will go and continue stirring. It turns a grainy looking texture if it burns. When finished let it cool in the pan.

2. 2

   Chop veg and put in crock or a big pot.

3. 3

   Cut up sausage into rounds and fry in a pan, then add to crock or pot.

4. 4

   Tear up chicken, add to crock.

5. 5

   Add herbs, spices, water, roux, and garlic. I start with about 1/4 tsp of each: oregano, basil, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, black pepper, paprika, and red pepper.

6. 6

   Simmer the whole thing until you can't keep people out of it without the threat of bodily harm. I usually use the crock and cook it on low for about 8 hours Taste, add more seasonings if needed. I never quite add enough salt, so it always needs more salt. Add more water if necessary.

7. 7

   Add cooked shrimp, if using. Simmer 20 minutes more.

8. 8

   Thicken with file or corn starch. If using file, add it just at the very end right before serving. Cooked file gets tough and rubbery, but it adds a desirable flavor. If using corn starch, put 2-3 Tablespoons in a cup, add a bit of water and mix until dissolved then add the mix to the gumbo and stir it inches Use more if necessary.

9. 9

   Server over cooked rice.