My spicy Gumbo
This makes a medium spicy Gumbo.
First Instead of making Roux (cooking flour in water over heat until it turns into a dark brown sauce, kind of like gravy but much harder to make right) which is rather time consuming and if not careful you can burn it and it then tastes awful, I use a base of two boxes of Zataran Rice mixes: Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice and or Gumbo. Any two of these together or in combination work.
This recipe is for about 8 quarts; you can easily cut it in half. It will keep in the refrigerator for two weeks and/or you can freeze it.
Ingredients (8 quart size, will make about 20-24 meal size servings):
2 boxes Zataran Rice Mix
2 ½ pounds Earl Campbell “Hot” Hot links (same amount of Eckrich Sausage can be substituted).
2 ½ pounds large shrimp
I package of Crab Boil
1 stalk of celery
1 large white onion
1 package imitation crab meat (12-16 oz size)
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional:
1 pint raw Oyster
2 boneless chicken breasts
1-2 small blue crabs (whole)
Different ways to increase Hotness with good flavor:
3 to 5 Jalapeno peppers (can be fresh or canned)
Cut open Crab Boil and put in Gumbo after cooking Shrimp
You can also add 1-2 cans of Rotel and/or 1 Jar of Ariba Hot salsa.
Preparation:
Start a pot of water to cook the shrimp.
Start large pot of water (8 quarts size) with about 3-4 quarts of water.
In the Shrimp water add the package of Crab Boil and bring to a boil
Add the Shrimp and cook 10-15 minutes until red.
Drain in a Colander (pot with holes), add ice and let cool.
After cool peel the shrimp and put in a bowl.
If you are going to add the Crab Boil, get a nice and open the spice sack and empty the contents into the large water pot.
…..
Large Pot of Water:
Add the two packages of Zataran Rice Mixes and stir occasionally, this will need to cook 20-30 minutes total.
Begin cutting the Celery into 1/8 inch slices. Add to the large pot of water.
Peel the other layers of onion and discard, cut into quarter inch pieces. Add to the large pot of water.
If you are adding the Jalapenos slice into 1/8 inch slices and add at this time (leave seeds in). Also add Rotel and/or Ariba sauce.
Cut the sausage to pieces about ½ inches long and add to large pot of water.
Cut the artificial crab meat into ½ inch size cubes and add to the water.
If you are using the chicken breast cut in to ½ inch cubes and adds to the large pot.
Put oysters in the large pot if you are going to use them.
Cut the Blue crabs in half and add whole to the large pot (you can break into smaller piece if you want).
Cook until the rice is done, usually about 30 minutes total and then it is ready to serve.
If the mixture becomes too thick add water as needed to keep somewhat soupy.
Bon Appetite!
Start one large pot of water and put the two Zataran rice mixes in. Occasionally stirring