Authentic Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Irishcolleen's Note:

Some people think that New Orleans cuisine is Cajun cuisine. It isn't. It's Creole cuisine, where most sauces and gravies are prepared with tomato. To delight in true Cajun cuisine, one must travel west of New Orleans into Acadiana, where, in my opinion, the food is much better! Just be sure that you like spicy, because most of it is highly seasoned. My mother taught me how to make Gumbo. I usually make enough to freeze in portions so that I'll always have some on hand. Potato salad is traditionally served as a side dish.....oh, and of course, some good, crusty, garlic french bread to sop up the juice. :)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 8 chicken thighs (I much prefer dark meat in a gumbo)
• 1 ½ lbs richard's smoked sausage , sliced (or your favorite smoked sausage)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion , chopped
• 1 bell pepper , chopped
• 2 stalks celery , chopped
• 6 garlic cloves , minced
• salt and cayenne pepper
• green onion , chopped
• parsley , chopped

Directions:

1. Brown chicken thighs and sausage in a cast iron dutch oven. Remove from pot and let cool.
2. Add oil to the pot. With wire whisk, blend in flour. Continue stirring constantly, until flour is the color of chocolate syrup. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSTANTLY STIR THIS! Once the flour has browned to this point, quickly add onions, bell pepper and celery. Cook until onions are transparent. Add enough water to fill the pot about half way. Simmer.
3. Meanwhile, debone chicken. Add chicken and sausage. If needed, add more water to cover the chicken.
4. Add minced garlic, salt, and cayenne.
5. Let simmer for about an hour.
6. Serve in a soup plate, over hot cooked rice.
7. Sprinkle green onions, parsley, and file in the bowls.
8. MMMMMMMMMM -- good stuff!

Reviews

[saracho]

This was a hit at our house! I had never made a roux for gumbo before so it was quite a lesson in patience but the end product was fantastic! Lots and lots of enjoyment from my family. I did add some file at the end. Thanks for posting!

[atxfoodie]

This was DELISH. This was my first attempt at making gumbo and it came out better than I expected. Even my friends who are New Orleans transplants thought so. Thank you for sharing. It's definitely being added to my cookbook.

[Chef susan from Sandpoint,Idaho]

this is wonderful we really loved it comfort food , at its best thank you so much for sharing your recipe