Ingredients
Gathering the ingredients for this gumbo might remind you of preparing for a family feast, where each component plays a crucial role in the final masterpiece. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup okra, sliced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked white rice, for serving
- Chopped green onions and parsley, for garnish
If you’re looking for substitutions, feel free to swap the chicken thighs with chicken breast or even shrimp for a seafood twist. The okra can be replaced with zucchini if you prefer a different texture.
Instructions
Let’s bring this dish to life with some easy-to-follow steps that will guide you from start to finish:
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Stir in the flour to make a roux, and cook, stirring constantly, until it turns a deep brown color, about 10-15 minutes. This step requires patience, just like when my abuela taught me to make tortillas from scratch.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot and cook until just browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the sausage slices and cook until browned. Remove and set aside with the chicken.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for another minute to let the spices bloom.
- Return the chicken and sausage to the pot, followed by the chicken broth, okra, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
- Serve hot over cooked white rice, garnished with green onions and parsley.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International