January 27, 2013

Chicken & Andouille Gumbo Recipe

Today I bring you "Cooking with a Coon-Ass. . ."

Sorry, but its a Cajun expression.  And today that's exactly what I did!  My friend, Phillip was making gumbo so I went to watch him cook and partake a few hours later when it was finished.  It was extremely tasty, but the company of Phillip and his girlfriend, Amy, was even better!

Phillip agreed to be my guest chef today.  Phillip was born in Northern Louisiana and is a true Cajun boy.  He happens to be a fine cook too!  Here is his recipe and some photos of the gumbo makin' process.  It was mighty good.  Y'all missed out, you hear dat?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups flour
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large onion, minced
1 large bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 bag frozen okra
3 lbs andouille sausage cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 whole chicken, cooked and shredded
3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning (our pick is Slap Ya Mama)
1 tsp. salt
12 cups chicken stock
1/4 tsp. filé plus extra for each bowl
French Bread
cooked rice

Directions:

Prep:


1.  According to Phillip, the first step is to open a beer of your choice
and have a drink.

2.  In a small skillet, add a drizzle of oil and the frozen okra.  This step is necessary as okra has a tendency to have a "slimy" texture if this step is skipped.  Heat over
medium heat until okra has been thawed and heated through
(about 5 - 7 minutes).


3.  Make sure to chop/mince/shred/slice all vegetables and meat in advance. 
It is extremely helpful if you can find someone to assist you as your
sous chef while you start on the next section. 

*note:  If you are time restricted or just want a shortcut, you can always buy a rotisserie chicken if you don't want to take the time to cook your own, and you can buy the vegetables from the produce department or salad bar of your local market already chopped for you. 


The Roux:

4.  In a pre-warmed, large (at least 5 quart) dutch oven
(preferably cast iron), add the oil. 

5.  Once the oil has heated up, add the flour.

6.  Using a whisk, mix constantly over medium-low to medium temperature. 

7.  Once the roux has reach a dark color (slightly darker than milk chocolate, but not
quite as dark as dark chocolate) proceed to the next set of directions. 
Be patient as this takes some time.

This is how your roux will look when you first begin
.
After a short time your roux will begin to darken.
   
Once your roux gets to this color you are ready to continue.

*Extremely important: It is key not to walk away during this process. You must tend to this and stir constantly while making the roux as it will scorch or burn very easily.

Cooking the Gumbo:

8.  Add the prepped vegetables and spices to the roux.


9.  Add chicken stock to dutch oven.


10.  Cook over medium high heat until it starts to simmer then reduce to
medium-low to medium heat.


11.  Add meat and additional seasoning (if desired).  It may be necessary to transfer mixture to a larger stock pot at this point as this makes a fairly large recipe.


12.  Cook over medium low heat for a minimum of 1 hour.  Best if left to simmer closer to 2 hours.  The vegetables will soften and cook down during this time.

13.  Skim off any oil that has risen to the top of the gumbo and discard.

14.  Add approximately 1/4 tsp of filé and mix well.
  

15.  Serve over rice with a sprinkle of filé on top and a thick chunk of French bread on the side.  We used brown rice and it was quite delicious!  My recommendation, 5 minute rice just doesn't cut it.  Take the time and cook the traditional long cook rice.  You will be glad you did!



FYI - Filé came to us from the American Indians.  It is made from the leaves of the sassafras tree and is used to thicken and add a delicate flavor to gumbo and other Cajun dishes.


 It will help get you in the mood for gumbo if you happen to have a Saints hat and wear it while preparing this dish.  See how it helped put Phillip in the mood for Gumbo?




















A special thanks to Chef Phillip and Amy for having me as a guest today and
for Phillip sharing his recipe with us!

This recipe shared on:
Foodie Friends Friday



Shared on:
Feeding Big

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13 comments:

  1. Love it! I think I may have to try this. I had to have Zatarian's Gumbo File' shipped here from Louisiana. Not easy to find in Montana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your boy is a fabulous cook, Tina! Having it shipped is better than not being able to get it at all!

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  2. Oh My Gosh! It is early in the morning, but I could use a big pot of this gumbo! thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe. I will have to be on the lookout for some "Slap your Mama"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sitting at my desk at work enjoying a bowl of gumbo right now! I just love Slap Ya Mama. I have 3 different varieties, original, hot and white pepper blend. They have some great products. If you can't find them in your area you can always order from their website: http://www.slapyamama.com/

      You will need to make some of this. . .it is soooo delicious!

      Delete
  3. Awe Phillip you look so cute!! And the Gumbo looks delish!! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh! And I will definitely try your recipe....maybe even with the okra! Or bake it in the oven and have it as a side dish...yum!!

      Delete
    2. It was very good! WITH the okra! :) It cooks down so much you don't even have big chunks in your bowl. The key is to cook it ahead of time to "de-slime" it!

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  4. This looks like a great recipe, I can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing.
    cass-eats.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great recipe Kelly. I love the photos and learning how to make a roux. Thanks for sharing on FFF.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Marlene! The key to the sucess of this recipe truly is the roux!

      Delete

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