Valeries Very Best Gumbo Recipes

VALERIE'S VERY BEST GUMBO

Steps:

• Warm 1 cup oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven until hot. Add the flour to the pot all at once, whisking until the consistency is uniform. Cook the roux, whisking occasionally, until it is the color of a tarnished penny, about 20 minutes. Do not let it darken any further. Carefully add the celery, bell peppers, onion, chopped scallions and garlic to the pot, working away from you as the hot roux may spatter. Stir with a wooden spoon until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add enough stock to just cover the vegetables, about 1 quart, and stir to combine. The roux may separate. Add the tomatoes with their juices, andouille and smoked sausages, cayenne, bay leaves, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper and the remaining stock, about 1 more quart. Partially cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add the okra and cook, stirring, until the gel dries out slightly, about 3 minutes. Add to the Dutch oven.
• Taste the gumbo for seasoning and adjust as desired. Add the chicken, cook until warmed through and serve, or simmer up to 2 hours more to concentrate the flavors, adding the chicken 20 minutes before serving.
• Sprinkle with the reserved sliced scallions and serve over rice. Serve with hot sauce and file powder if using.

QUICK ROTISSERIE CHICKEN GUMBO

Steps:

• Cook the sausages in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, about 8 minutes. Remove the sausages from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; gradually whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is a deep caramel color, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, thyme, Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in the broth; add the chicken, tomatoes, okra, Worcestershire sauce and sausage.
• Increase the heat to medium high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all the vegetables are tender and the broth has thickened slightly, about 20 minutes. Serve the gumbo over the hot cooked rice topped with the scallions. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.
• Photograph Courtesy of Time Inc. Books/Alison Miksch.