**Unveil the Essence of Southern Cuisine: A Culinary Journey through Texas Okra Gumbo**
In the heart of the Lone Star State, a culinary masterpiece awaits: Texas Okra Gumbo, a symphony of flavors that embodies the essence of Southern cooking. This savory dish, steeped in history and tradition, is a tantalizing blend of fresh okra, succulent shrimp, and tender chicken, all simmering together in a rich, flavorful broth. Accompanied by an array of additional recipes that showcase the versatility of okra, this article presents a delectable exploration of this Southern delicacy. From classic gumbo variations to innovative okra-infused dishes, this culinary journey promises to satisfy every palate and transport you to the heart of Texas' vibrant food culture.
OKRA GUMBO
Thickened with a roux, this vegetarian gumbo is rich with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, peppers and okra.
Provided by ILUV2SAVE
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews Gumbo Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, onion, and green bell pepper, and saute until tender. Stir in okra, mushrooms, diced tomatoes and their liquid, tomato paste, file powder, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 40 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stirring constantly, add flour, and cook 2 to 5 minutes, until a golden brown roux has formed.
- Spoon the roux into the okra mixture, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes, until thickened.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105.2 calories, Carbohydrate 12.4 g, Fat 5.5 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 541.8 mg, Sugar 6.1 g
LOW COUNTRY GUMBO
Gumbo came to the United States through West Africa, as part of the Atlantic slave trade. In fact, gumbo is a traditional African word for "okra." As the dish traveled through the South, it was influenced by each region. There's Creole gumbo, which is roux-based, and Cajun-style gumbo, which is made with tomatoes. This version is Creole, but try different kinds so you can see just how diverse the dish can be.
Provided by Sean Brock
Categories main-dish
Time 3h20m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 31
Steps:
- Prepare the vegetables. Remove sausage from the casings and crumble. Set aside.
- Season the diced chicken with 3-4 tablespoons of Creole Spice Mix, either homemade or a high-quality store-bought mix. Dredge the chicken in ½ cup all-purpose flour.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat ½ cup of lard. When melted, add the andouille and slightly flatten to an even layer; brown on both sides, just cooking through. (Do not overstir, or meat will not sear.) Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon so oil remains in pan, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.Add the chicken to the hot pan. Allow the chicken to brown and cook through in two batches, being careful not to overstir, about 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside with the sausage.
- Roux: Turn the heat to low. Scrape food bits from the bottom of pan (also known as "fond") so they are loose in the melted fat. Add the remaining ½ cup lard and allow it to melt. Dust in the remaining ¾ cup flour in several small additions, whisking constantly. Simmer on low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon so roux does not stick, for 30-45 minutes, until the roux is the color of peanut butter.
- Raise the heat slightly. When the roux has just begun to bubble, add the onions and stir well to coat them. Then add the celery and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, to just soften. (The goal is to "stew," not sear.) Add the garlic. Slowly add the stock in several additions, stirring and scraping constantly to deglaze and mix well. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the bay leaves and the filé, and stir. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until "nappe consistency"-thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add the chicken and sausage pieces and simmer.
- Heat a dry cast-iron skillet. Toss okra lightly in oil, then grill in the hot pan, stirring occasionally, until seared and aromatic. Remove, cool slightly, and chop into ½-inch pieces. Add to the pot and stir.
- Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Season with hot sauce, lemon, and some of the spice mix to taste. Serve with rice.
- Combine all the ingredients for the Creole Spice Mix in a bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside.
EARL CAMPBELL'S HOT LINK GUMBO
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 ounces per person (2 gallons of base)
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Start by making the roux. In a heavy bottomed pan, preferably a cast-iron skillet, melt the bacon fat and stir in the flour. It's important to keep stirring this until it turns a deep dark brown. Usually about 30 minutes. Also remember once it is brown to remove it from the burner and it will continue to cook as the pan is still really hot.
- For the gumbo: Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the celery, onions and green and red bell peppers. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Cut the hot links in 1/4-inch half-moons and add to the pot. Add the water, clam base, chili powder, thyme, oregano, garlic, paprika, cayenne, chicken base, hot sauce and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Take 1 cup of the liquid and stir it into the still hot roux; it will expand to double the size. Add this to the gumbo and stir it in well bring it back to a boil. Once it has thickened, turn off the heat and stir in the okra and gumbo file. (At this point you have a nice base that you can add your choice of proteins to, anything from crawfish, shrimp, crab, chicken or a combination.)
- Serve in a bowl with steamed rice, soda crackers and Louisiana hot sauce.
SEAFOOD GUMBO
Gumbo is one dish that makes Louisiana cuisine so famous. We live across the state line in Texas and can't seem to get enough of this traditional gumbo recipe that features okra, shrimp, spicy seasonings and what is called the holy trinity-onions, green peppers and celery. This recipe calls for seafood, but you could also use chicken, duck or sausage. -Ruth Aubey, San Antonio, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 24 servings (6 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a heavy Dutch oven, combine flour and oil until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir about 10 minutes more or until mixture is reddish brown. , Add the onion, celery, green pepper and green onions; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, water, okra, paprika, salt, oregano and pepper. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. , Add shrimp and parsley. Simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes more or until seafood is done. Remove from heat; stir in Cajun seasoning.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 166 calories, Fat 10g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 96mg cholesterol, Sodium 900mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
OKRA GUMBO
I got this recipe from a relative back in the early '70's we've been enjoying ever since. It won 1st place in our cooking contest at my family reunion. You may want to add a little water or chicken broth to this.
Provided by True Texas
Categories Gumbo
Time 2h25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Saute' onion and peppers in margarine until tender.
- Add remaining ingredients including cooked chicken.
- Cook on low for about 2 hours to blend flavors.
- This can be served over steamed rice.
Tips:
- Use fresh okra: Fresh okra is more tender and flavorful than frozen or canned okra. If you can't find fresh okra, frozen or canned okra will work in a pinch.
- Slice the okra thinly: This will help the okra cook evenly and prevent it from becoming slimy.
- Don't overcook the okra: Okra only takes a few minutes to cook. Overcooking it will make it slimy.
- Add the okra to the gumbo at the end of the cooking process: This will help prevent it from becoming slimy.
- Serve the gumbo over rice: Rice is the traditional accompaniment to gumbo. It helps to soak up the rich broth and provides a hearty base for the gumbo.
Conclusion:
Texas okra gumbo is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold day. It is also a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. If you are looking for a new soup recipe to try, Texas okra gumbo is a great option.
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