Seafood File Gumbo

Seafood gumbo consisting of fresh shrimp, crab, oysters, vegetables, herbs and spices; simmered in fresh concentrated shrimp stock.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 8 hr
• Total Time: 8 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 418 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 cups diced celery
• 2 cups diced onion
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 whole cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 1 bay leaf, crushed
• 2 cups chopped green bell pepper
• 3 tablespoons file powder
• 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 5 quarts water
• 4 onions, quartered
• ½ bunch celery, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh parsley
• ½ tablespoon ground white pepper
• 16 ounces crabmeat
• ¾ cup corn oil
• 1 pint shucked oysters

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Shell and devein the shrimp, reserve the shells. Place the shrimp in a covered bowl and refrigerate. Place the shells on a cookie sheet, and bake until the shells are dried and starting to brown on the edges. Turn off the oven.

Step 3

Make the stock: In a 8 quart pot, put 5 quarts of water, 4 carrots, 4 onions, and celery. Add 2 bay leaves, sliced garlic, parsley, cloves, 1 teaspoons black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried basil and 2 teaspoons dried thyme. Add the shrimp shells. Bring the stock slowly to boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook 5 to 7 hours, replacing water as needed, 2 or 3 times, by pouring more water down side of pot.

Step 4

Remove stock from heat and strain. Press all liquid from the shells and vegetables, then discard them. Return liquid to heat and reduce stock to 2 to 3 quarts, or to your desired quantity (you will need 7 cups of this stock for this recipe). If clarity is desired, strain the stock through a cloth.

Step 5

In a small bowl, combine the ground red, white, and black peppers, paprika, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and salt and set aside.

Step 6

In a heavy pot, 5-quart or larger, heat oil over medium heat, warming the pot first. Add onions, celery and green pepper. Turn heat to high. Stirring frequently, add garlic, file, hot pepper sauce, and the pepper-herb mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add tomato sauce and stir as it reduces over high heat. Add 7 cups of the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

When ready to serve, add shrimp, oysters, and crabmeat. Cover and wait 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand for 10 minutes.