Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

With our abundance of fresh okra, DT requested I make gumbo.  So I immediately called my mom for her recipe from Tout de Suite A la microwave by Jean K Durkee circa 1977, because I know its so good.  She brought over the recipe and with her guidance we made a delicious okra, shrimp and sausage gumbo.  If you’ve never eaten or made gumbo run to the store now and by the ingredients I promise you will wonder were gumbo has been all your life, the deep dark flavors wonderful aroma ohh, I just wish words could describe.  Trust me on this one.

Ingredients: Roux: 2/3 cup oil, 2/3 cup flour, 4 cup measuring cup, 2 cups onion, chopped, 1 cup celery, chopped, 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped, 4 cloves garlic, minced, 1/4 cup parsley, chopped, 1/4 cup green onion tops, chopped. Approximately 1/4 cup water

To start the Roux, measure equal parts, flour and oil

Stir well

Then microwave in 3 minute increments

Stirring well in between, because you don’t want to burn the roux

Once it starts to bubble you know your getting close, but it still needs to be darker

Almost

Closer

Perfect, about 7 minutes

Then add in all your chopped onion, celery, and bell pepper, pressing them down, in the roux

Be careful because the roux is extremely hot

once they are thouroughly mixed, microwave another 3 minutes

Then add in your garlic, parsley and green onions, add water if you need to reach the 4 cup mark, I didn’t need any water

Mix well, and microwave another 2 minutes

At this point the roux will smell so good, it’ll make you want to slap your momma, and I almost did because she was helping me, and she can get a little bossy!! ha ha!! Love you Mom!

Now once your roux has finished in the microwave,

don’t slap your momma, instead add it too a large stock pot

Then add any leftover chicken stock from your sticky chicken, but if you don’t have that add 1 1/2 quarts water

Ingredients for the Gumbo: 1 cup sticky chicken drippings( if you don’t have this use chicken stock), 1 1/2 quarts water,  1 T salt, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 lbs shrimp, 1 link sausage, 4 cups okra

Then add in the water

salt

and cayenne pepper

Mix well cover and put on high for about 10 minutes

Then add half of the okra, and cook another 10 minutes

then add the link of sausage, cook another 10 minutes

Then add the okra

and shrimp and cook another ten minutes

Then remove your sausage, slice and add back into gumbo

Serve over a bed of rice

Oh man! Oh Man, the men in your family will love you forever if you cook this.

Print This RecipeShrimp and Okra Gumbo

Roux:
2/3 cup oil

2/3 cup flour

4 cup measuring cup

2 cups onion, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

1/4 cup green onion tops, chopped

Approximately 1/4 cup water (optional, I didn’t need any)

Gumbo:

1 cup chicken stock or sticky chicken drippings

1 1/2 quarts hot water

1 T salt

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 lbs shrimp

1 link sausage

4 cups okra, chopped

Mix flour and oil together in a 4-cup measure. Microwave on high 6 1/2- 7 minutes, stirring well in 1-2 minute increments, Roux will be dark caramel.  Then add onion, celery, and peppers, pressing them down in roux.  Microwave for 3 minutes, stir.  Then add green onion, garlic, and parsley, stir well and microwave 2 minutes.  Add hot water to bring mixture to 4 cup mark, (optional, I didn’t need to use any water).  Pour into large stock pot. Add chicken stock and hot water, cover and cook for 10 minutes, then add half okra cook another 10 minutes, then add the rest of okra and link of sausage, cook another 10 minutes, then add shrimp and rest of the okra cook for 10 more minutes. Remove the sausage, slice and return to gumbo.  Serve of a bed of rice.