Roux-Based Authentic Seafood Gumbo with Okra

This from-scratch gumbo takes a little bit of time, but is well worth the effort! No bouillon, chopped tomatoes, chicken, sausage, or bacon here! Impress your Cajun friends with this wonderful gumbo. Serve over white rice with a side of French bread. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
• Calories: 344 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup chopped celery
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped green onions
• 6 cups water
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®), or to taste
• 1 pound frozen chopped okra
• 1 pound catfish, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 ½ pounds peeled and deveined shrimp
• 1 tablespoon gumbo file powder, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Put flour into a Dutch oven or large heavy pot and add flour. Turn heat to medium-high, put the pot on the burner, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick and bubbly, has a 'peanutty' smell, and is dark brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool and thicken.

Step 2

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir celery, green onions, and bell pepper in hot butter until tender, about 10 minutes; add to pot with the roux.

Step 3

Stir water, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, hot pepper sauce, and thyme into the vegetable mixture. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 1 hour.

Step 4

Stir okra into the vegetable mixture and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Add catfish, stir gently, and cook until the flesh is easily flaked with a fork, about 5 minutes. Gently stir shrimp into the mixture; cook until the shrimp are bright pink, about 3 minutes. Season with the file powder and salt; stir.