Seafood Gumbo New Orleans Style Recipes

Steps:

• 1. In a large crockpot, add all of the chopped vegetables, bay leaves and parsley; pour oil and water over the top. Don't stir. Cover and set cooker to high for 2 hours or until bubbling, then set it to low and cook 6 more hours (while you sleep). This not only cooks all the slime out of the okra but also cooks down the seasonings without having to stand over the stove for hours, stirring constantly. Alternate Method: set cooker on low for 9-10 hours (while you sleep).
• 2. Make the Shrimp Stock - In a very large soup pot put all the shrimp heads and peels along with the remaining stock ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. Remove from heat and strain the solids out of the stock and discard. Use the stock for the gumbo and freeze and leftover stock for future use. (If you have a vent fan over your cooktop, turn it on high. It will not only smell like a full blown shrimp boil inside your house, but it will clean out your sinuses. I just happen to love the smell.)
• 3. First You Make A Roux - Most roux recipes call for equal parts oil and flour but it makes for a more liquid roux and leave unused oil floating in the finished product. I prefer to make a thick roux base where just about all of the fat is consumed by flour. At first it will be very thick but not chalky and all of the flour will be absorbed by the fat. As the roux begins to cook and brown, lower the heat and continue to stir or whisk. It will become smoother and a little thinner but still won't have excess fat in it. Remember, the darker the roux the less thickening power it has.
• 4. To begin the roux, in a large gumbo pot or soup pot heat oil just until hot, but not burning, and whisk in the flour, removing all lumps. Over medium to medium-low heat continue to frequently stir to keep flour from browning too fast. If your fire is too high the flour will burn (you will smell it). If this happens THROW IT OUT and start over with a lower heat. Gumbo is too expensive to ruin on burnt roux! Cook the roux until it is just a little darker than peanut butter. The darker the roux, the harsher the flavor, which is too strong for the delicate seafood. If you like your gumbo to "look" darker, add Kitchen Bouquet to the gumbo. It doesn't take three days to make a great roux but you don't want to rush it either. Making roux takes a little patience but it's not that difficult even for the beginner.
• 5. Finishing Off the Gumbo - If you're using oysters, strain the liquor through a strainer lined with a paper towel and reserve liquid. Discard grit and shell pieces. Refrigerate oysters and liquor until ready to use. To your perfect roux add the cooked down vegetables from the crock pot and enough shrimp stock, (or other liquids), to bring the gumbo to desired thickness. Don't start it out too thick because it will thicken a little as it simmers. At this point add the gumbo crabs only, NOT THE CRAB MEAT OR SHRIMP. If the gumbo becomes too thick, add more liquid and stir frequently. When the mixture begins to gently boil reduce heat, add the crab meat and simmer on low for at least 30-45 minutes, gently stirring occasionally to keep from sticking. The longer you simmer the gumbo the better it gets.
• 6. Taste for seasoning, and add salt, black & red pepper, & tobasco to taste. ** At this point if you're not going to serve the gumbo until the next day turn the fire off and add the raw shrimp. Stir well, cover pot and let cool down. When it's cool enough put gumbo in refrigerator overnight. The next day heat up as much as you need for that meal. The shrimp will finish cooking and won't get tough. Again, taste and adjust seasonings as needed because the shrimp will absorb a lot of salt and seasonings from the gumbo.
• 7. If you're going to serve it the same day you make it, add the shrimp and simmer the gumbo for 20-30 minutes. Taste again and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve over white rice with crusty french bread. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired. Enjoy!
• 8. Fast Roux Tips - In a large glass microwave safe bowl or mixing bowl you can add the oil/butter and flour, whisk well to remove lumps and cook on high for 2 mintues. Stir. Cook again for 2 minutes and stir. Then cook in 1 minute intervals, stirring well between each cooking segment until desired color is reached. CAREFUL - it will burn quickly so don't cook too fast! The bowl is very hot so be careful when removing from microwave. If you're using oysters or crawfish tails, add those with the shrimp. This gumbo freezes well.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Stir in the rice, celery, onion and garlic. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the tomatoes, chicken, kielbasa, thyme, pepper, bay leaves and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes., Combine flour and water until smooth; gradually stir into chicken mixture. Stir in shrimp and green pepper. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 4-6 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and gumbo is thickened. Discard bay leaves., Remove rice from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes; stir in parsley. Serve with gumbo.

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, over medium heat, heat oil until hot.
• Add flour, whisking constantly.
• As roux turns from sand colour to light brown to caramel colour, turn down heat.
• Continue cooking and whisking constantly until roux is a dark brown colour.
• Increase heat to medium and add garlic, yellow onions, celery and bell peppers to roux.
• Cook 10 minutes.
• Add oregano, thyme and cayenne.
• Add clam juice, water, green onions and parsley, stirring until combined; bring to a gentle boil; Reduce heat to low, and simmer.
• Add white fish and shrimp, cook for 10 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper and Tabasco.
• Reduce heat to extremely low and simmer covered, for 1 hour- stirring frequently to prevent flour from burning.
• Remove from heat and serve over white rice.

Steps:

• Make the seafood gumbo stock: In a heavy-bottomed 5-quart pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the crabs and cook until the shells turn bright orange, 2-3 minutes. Add the shrimp shells and heads and cook until the shells turn pink, 2-3 minutes more. Smash the crab and shrimp shells, similar to mashing potatoes, to release any juices.
• Add the bell pepper, onion, and celery scraps, green onion, parsley, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, black pepper, and water. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30-35 minutes.
• Strain the stock through a large fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. You should have 12 cups. Set aside until ready to use in the gumbo (if not using immediately, the stock can be cooled, then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-3 days).
• Make the Creole seasoning: In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano until well combined.
• Make the gumbo: Heat 6 tablespoons canola oil in a heavy-bottomed 6-quart pot over medium-high heat until faint wisps of white smoke come off the oil (if thicker, darker smoke appears, remove the pot from the heat and let cool for 3 minutes). Add the okra and fry for 2 minutes, until army-green in color. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the okra to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving any remaining oil behind in the pot.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the same pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until faintly smoking again (do not let it overheat, or the flour will burn). Whisk in the flour to make a roux and cook, whisking constantly, until it turns a dark cocoa brown, 5-6 minutes. (If the roux is browning too quickly, remove the pot from the heat while continuing to stir and reduce the heat to medium-low.)
• Reduce the heat to medium, then add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and 2 tablespoons of the Creole seasoning. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, until onions have softened. Add the garlic, bay leaves, and remaining Creole seasoning.
• Increase the heat to medium-high heat. While whisking or stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming, add the seafood gumbo stock, 4 cups at a time. Add the okra, smoked sausage, crabs, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, skimming off any foamy flour residue that rises to the surface. The gumbo should thicken and reduce by one quarter.
• Season the gumbo with the salt and pepper to taste, then add the shrimp. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let the residual heat cook the shrimp for 10 minutes.
• Ladle the hot gumbo into bowls. Serve with rice and garnish with parsley, green onions, and filé powder, if using.
• It's important to properly cool and store leftover seafood gumbo, otherwise it will spoil. Fill a clean 2-liter bottle or plastic juice jug with water and freeze until solid. Once finished eating, place the ice bottle in the pot of gumbo and let cool, stirring occasionally to release heat. Transfer the gumbo to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 11. The gumbo can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
• Enjoy!