Indulge in a culinary journey to the heart of Cajun country with Emeril Lagasse's Country File Gumbo, a hearty and flavorful stew bursting with the essence of Louisiana. This classic gumbo is a symphony of textures and tastes, featuring succulent chicken, tender okra, aromatic bell peppers, hearty sausage, and the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine—onions, celery, and bell peppers. Enriched with a robust stock, the gumbo is seasoned with a medley of spices, including Emeril's signature Essence and Bam, creating a harmonious balance of heat and depth. Served over fluffy steamed rice, this comforting dish is sure to warm your soul and tantalize your taste buds. This article not only unveils the secrets behind Emeril's Country File Gumbo but also offers a collection of diverse gumbo variations to suit every palate. From the classic Creole Gumbo with its rich, dark roux to the seafood-packed Louisiana Gumbo, each recipe promises a unique culinary adventure. Prepare to dive into a world of bold flavors and savor the essence of authentic Cajun cooking with this comprehensive guide to gumbo.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
SEAFOOD GUMBO
Provided by Emeril Lagasse
Categories main-dish
Time 2h39m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large, heavy saucepan or dutch oven melt butter and whisk in flour until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until roux is a peanut butter color, about 20 minutes.
- Immediately add onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and bay leaves and cook until vegetables are very soft, about 8 minutes. Add stock and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, skim surface, and reduce heat to a simmer. Add crabs and cook for 1 1/2 hours, until thickened and flavorful. If gumbo seems too thick, thin with water or seafood stock.
- Add shrimp and fish and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until shrimp turn pink and fish is cooked through. Add oysters (with their liquor), parsley, and green onions, and cook until edges of oysters curl, about 5 to7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary, and serve in large bowls over hot white rice.
EMERIL'S CLASSIC SEAFOOD GUMBO
This recipe for delicious seafood gumbo is courtesy of Emeril Lagasse.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes Shrimp Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Place an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, and add flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir oil and flour together to form a roux, and cook until it becomes the color of milk chocolate, 20 to 25 minutes. Add onions, bell peppers, and celery; stir until well combined, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cook for 30 seconds. Add beer and shrimp stock; season with thyme, bay leaves, crabs, Worcestershire, salt, and cayenne. Bring gumbo to a boil, and immediately reduce heat to a simmer. Let gumbo cook, simmering, about 1 hour, skimming surface occasionally.
- Season shrimp and fish fillets with Emeril's Essence. Add to gumbo and stir to combine; cook for 2 minutes. Add oysters, and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
- Serve gumbo garnished with parsley, scallion tops, and file powder in shallow bowls over white rice.
FILE GUMBO
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h45m
Yield 10 to 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Heat some vegetable oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat and cook the chicken in batches until it is golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the flour to the chicken juices and stir continuously. Add the butter and cook the roux until it is brown.
- Add the peppers, onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, bay leaves, thyme, and 1 quart of water. Stir well and bring to a boil. When the vegetables are soft, put the chicken back into the pot and add the remaining water. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage and ham until they are browned. Add them to the pot along with the shrimp and stir well. Let the gumbo simmer for 1 hour, then add the okra. After 20 minutes, turn off the heat. Ladle a couple of cups of the liquid into a mixing bowl. Add the file powder and whisk until well blended. Pour back into the stock pot and mix well. It's ready to serve!
CHICKEN AND SMOKED SAUSAGE GUMBO
Provided by Emeril Lagasse
Categories main-dish
Time 3h50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Combine the oil and flour in a large cast iron or enameled cast iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Stirring slowly and constantly for 20 to 25 minutes, make a dark brown roux, the color of chocolate. Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and continue to stir for 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted. Add the sausage, salt, cayenne, and bay leaves. Continue to stir for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth. Stir until the roux mixture and water are well combined. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.
- Season the chicken with the rub and add to the pot. Simmer for 2 hours. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, green onions, and file powder. Remove the bay leaves and serve in deep bowls.
- Combine all ingredients and store in an air-tight container.
GUMBO
Provided by Emeril Lagasse
Categories main-dish
Time 2h10m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- In a large pot, heat the oil. Fry the okra, stirring constantly, for 10 to 12 minutes or until most of the slime disappears. Season with Essence. Add the tomatoes, onions, and celery, stirring occasionally, cook for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted. Season with salt and cayenne. Add the bay leaves, thyme, garlic and water. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook for 30 minutes. Serve with rice and garnish with green onions and Essence.
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
EMERIL'S COUNTRY GUMBO
Categories Shellfish
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Make a dark roux: Heat oil in a large soup pot over high heat. When oil begins to smoke, whisk in flour. Continue to whisk constantly until mixture is a rich brown color. Be careful not to produce specs of black. Roux must remain an even color throughout process. If specks appear you must start over. When roux is mahogany colored, add onions, celery and bell pepper. Stir mixture until onions begin to brown. Add garlic. Slowly pour in stock, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Add Worcestershire, hot sauce, cayenne, salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until gumbo is reduced to half a gallon. If it reduces too fast, add more stock or water. Gumbo should cook long enough for roux flavor to mellow. Stir in shrimp, chicken, sausage, crab, green onions, parsley, bay leaves, thyme and basil. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Sprinkle in file powder and cook, stirring, 2 minutes more. Remove bay leaves before serving. Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/emerils-country-gumbo-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Tips:
- Use a good quality stock. A well-made stock will give your gumbo a richer flavor. You can use chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetable stock, depending on your preference.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. Gumbo is a versatile dish that can be easily adapted to your own taste. Try adding different vegetables, meats, or seafood. You can also adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Serve gumbo with your favorite sides. Gumbo is often served with rice, but it can also be enjoyed with cornbread, potato salad, or coleslaw.
- Gumbo is best made ahead of time. The flavors will have a chance to meld and develop over time. If you can, make your gumbo a day or two before you plan to serve it.
- Reheat gumbo gently. Overheating can cause the gumbo to lose its flavor and texture. Reheat it over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is just warmed through.
Conclusion:
Emeril's Country File Gumbo is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a casual weeknight meal. With its rich flavor and variety of ingredients, gumbo is sure to please everyone at your table. So, what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try today!
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