Everything Gumbo
A trio of seasoned pork, chicken and crabmeat combined with a variety of veggies creates a classic you must try now! Try serving with scallion rice. This recipe allows for a reserve to serve at a later time.
Ingredients
Seasoning Blend:
- 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika or sweet paprika (a palmful)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander (half a palmful)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (half a palmful)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (half a palmful)
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked and chopped
- 2 fresh bay leaves
Trinity-Plus-Two Mix:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper or 2 small green bell peppers, chopped
- 2 red or green chili peppers, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped or sliced
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken, cut into large pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup flour, plus more for dredging
- 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup peanut or vegetable oil, divided
- 1 pound andouille sausage
- 1 can stewed tomatoes or diced tomatoes with chilies (15 ounces)
- 1 bottle beer (12 ounces)
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 12 ounces lump crabmeat or shrimp, peeled and deveined (if serving later in the week, pick up seafood fresh, if serving the same night or as a second night's meal, pick up crab or shrimp when shopping for the other ingredients)
- 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped
- 1 teaspoons hot sauce
Preparation
In bowl, mix the paprika, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper, thyme and bay leaves. Reserve the seasoning blend.
Chop and reserve the Trinity-Plus-Two mix of onion, peppers, celery and garlic.
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour. Add about 2 tablespoons oil and, when hot, add the chicken pieces, turning occasionally. When browned, remove to a plate. Remove the casings from the sausage and slice on an angle in large chunks.
Brown the andouille in a drizzle of oil and remove to a plate. Pour off the fat, then add the remaining 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup flour. Whisk constantly until medium-golden brown in color – think peanut butter.
Add the vegetables and seasoning blend to the pot plus salt and pepper and stir for 6-8 minutes to soften the vegetables a bit. Add the tomatoes and beer to the pot and reduce the beer by half, 2 minutes. Add the stock, chicken, and andouille back to the pot, simmer to combine the flavors, then cool completely and store for a make-ahead meal.
To reheat the gumbo: Place the gumbo in a covered pot over medium heat. Stir in the crab or shrimp and heat through or cook the shrimp until pink and firm. Top with scallions and serve with scallion rice, if desired.
