Gumbo

United States

About Gumbo

Gumbo is a thick, hearty stew from Louisiana, made with meat or seafood, vegetables and a dark roux, and served over rice. It is one of the most important dishes of Cajun and Creole cooking.

It starts with a roux, flour cooked slowly in oil until it turns as dark as chocolate, which gives gumbo its rich, nutty flavor. Then comes the "holy trinity" of onion, celery and bell pepper, followed by stock and ingredients such as chicken, smoked sausage, shrimp, crab or oysters.

Gumbo reflects Louisiana's mixed heritage, with West African, French, Spanish and Native American influences. Its name likely comes from a West African word for okra, which is used to thicken some versions; others use filé, ground sassafras leaves.

Ingredients

• Chicken
• sausage
• shrimp
• okra
• roux
• bell pepper
• onion