Tag-Archive for » Gumbo «

Gumbo: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

  Hello Shrimp and Okra Gumbo! What do you think of the new photo size? Too big maybe? I can’t decide. I told the hubby I wanted bigger photos on the site, but I just don’t know if they should be this large. Please, tell me what you think! The gumbo, on the other hand, it’s a keeper. No indecisiveness there. This recipe is awesome through and through–oh how I wish I could hand you a spoon and invite you to dig it. It’s earthy and aromatic and an essential part of [ ... ]

Gumbo: Pulled Duck and Sausage Gumbo (and Super Bowl)

It’s Super Bowl week guys and even though the Saints aren’t playing in the big game this year, there’s still plenty of energy and excitement in New Orleans. Hosting the event has a little something to do with that. The City’s also smack in the middle of Carnival season (as in Mardi Gras). That equates to full celebration mode from sun up to sun down. Hoorah! One of the great things about living in or visiting a host city is being able to share in the excitement surrounding the event without having to attend the event (because we all know how expensive [ ... ]

Gumbo: Turkey Bone Gumbo

Hey! Got a few minutes to talk about Black Friday? Not shopping. Cooking. I know you’re busy finishing up your Thanksgiving menu, planning that inevitable last minute grocery run and cooking make-ahead sides and sauces. And the last thing on your mind is what’s for dinner on Friday. But this is important, especially if your Turkey Day celebration extends through the weekend like ours does. If you need to plan additional meals for visiting family and want to make the most of leftovers, then save that turkey carcass (or beg the hostess for it) [ ... ]

Gumbo: Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Gumbo is one of the many New Orleans dishes steeped in tradition.  Just about every family has their own unique style, cooked a certain way with specific ingredients.  Each pot tells a story or reveals a bit of family history. Our family gumbo was my great-grandmother’s Creole Seafood Gumbo.  She graciously passed that recipe on to my mom who continued the tradition of preparing the dish for specials occasions.  The pot was always teeming with fresh shrimp, previously boiled crabs (for extra flavor) and briny oysters.  The gumbo was thickened with a light roux and canned okra and finished with tomato [ ... ]

Roux: Top 10 Tips For Mastering a Roux

Truth be told, I didn’t learn how to make a dark, rich roux from my family.  My relatives, who are all incredibly talented and passionate cooks, prepare meals with a heavy Creole hand.  So their sauces and gravies generally rely on butter-based white and blond roux.  My mom’s Seafood Gumbo, a recipe handed down from my great-grandmother, also follows Creole lines.  The gumbo is thickened with a light roux and okra and is flavored liberally with tomato sauce.  I was a young adult before I associated the rich, smoky flavors of other gumbos, étouffées and dark gravies with a roux.  [ ... ]

Roux: How to Make a Roux

There are many schools of thought on roux-making. Some cooks prefer the traditional and time-consuming approach of combining the flour and fat at room temperature then gradually increasing the heat until the mixture reaches the proper color and consistency. Others start their roux on the stove top and finish it in the oven. There are also folks who make it in the microwave or cook it dry by browning flour in the oven without any fat. I, on the other hand, have adopted the quick cook method described in Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen.     The quick cook [ ... ]

Roux: What’s a Roux?

“First you make a roux” is that ubiquitous phrase associated with classic New Orleans and South Louisiana dishes.  It’s written about in many cookbooks, debated in lots of food circles and feared by many professional and home cooks.  But what exactly is a roux (pronounced “roo”)?  Well, a roux  is nothing more than fat and flour cooked together to a desired color and thickening capability used to enhance stocks and other liquids.  The concept is simple, but the flavor, texture and color a roux lends to a dish is anything but! Since roux is the cornerstone of New Orleans cooking, learning [ ... ]