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Recipes  : Gumbo

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Gumbo

Though Louisiana doesn’t yet have a patron saint of gumbo, it could happen someday. The spicy, dark brown stew is so revered here that consuming less than one bowl a week is considered sacrilege. This legendary dish is made with all sorts of meat, seafood, and fowl. Chicken and sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo are two popular choices, and other favorites include shrimp and okra, duck, chicken and oyster, and crab.

Okra, roux, or filé is used to thicken gumbo. The dish gets its very name from the African word for the okra vegetable, “gombo.” Roux is a mixture of flour and oil (usually close to equal amounts) that has been cooked to the color of peanut butter or darker. Filé is a powder made from dried sassafras leaves; it’s added to the pot after the gumbo is cooked, or to individual bowls at the table.

When you’re ready to eat, ladle gumbo over a mound of steaming rice and sprinkle with some chopped green onions or parsley.

An insider tip: Never let gumbo that contains filé powder come to a boil—it will become stringy and unpalatable. Don’t have time for okra, roux or filé? Opt for Zatarain's Gumbo Mix with Rice or Zatarain’s Gumbo Base. All you have to do is add one pound of seafood or meat to our mix, and in 30 minutes, you’ve got delicious gumbo.

Whether you want to make it from scratch or let us do all the work, we’ve got all the products and recipes you need to get your gumbo started.

> Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Freeze extra gumbo so you'll have it on hand when you need a robust soup.
Rating: Prep time:15 min. Cook time:75 min.
> Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Chicken and sausage gumbo is a Louisiana favorite for cold fall and winter days. Start with the “holy trinity” of Cajun cooking (onions, celery, and bell pepper) to make this delicious gumbo in under an hour.

Rating: Prep time:15 min. Cook time:40 min.
> Creole Gumbo

Like a traditional gumbo, this one is prepared without rice. Instead, prepare Zatarain's® Long Grain Parboiled Rice to serve with the gumbo.
Rating: Prep time:10 min. Cook time:60 min.
> Duck and Andouille Gumbo

This gumbo takes advantage of the bounty of ducks in Louisiana, many of which end up in freezers. The ducks are set aside especially for gumbo preparation in the winter.
Rating: Prep time:30 min. Cook time:135 min.
> Gumbo z'Herbes

This vegetarian gumbo, made with fresh greens and herbs, is traditionally served on Good Friday, when many abstain from meat. The greens may include whatever you have in the garden, but legend has it that if you include 7 greens you will make 7 new friends.
Rating: Prep time:35 min. Cook time:75 min.