Gumbo Casserole Recipes

GOOD NEW ORLEANS CREOLE GUMBO

Steps:

• Make a roux by whisking the flour and 3/4 cup bacon drippings together in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat to form a smooth mixture. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, until it turns a rich mahogany brown color. This can take 20 to 30 minutes; watch heat carefully and whisk constantly or roux will burn. Remove from heat; continue whisking until mixture stops cooking.
• Place the celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse until the vegetables are very finely chopped. Stir the vegetables into the roux, and mix in the sausage. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, and cook until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• Bring the water and beef bouillon cubes to a boil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Stir until the bouillon cubes dissolve, and whisk the roux mixture into the boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer, and mix in the sugar, salt, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, thyme, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer the soup over low heat for 1 hour; mix in 2 teaspoons of file gumbo powder at the 45-minute mark.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in a skillet, and cook the okra with vinegar over medium heat for 15 minutes; remove okra with slotted spoon, and stir into the simmering gumbo. Mix in crabmeat, shrimp, and Worcestershire sauce, and simmer until flavors have blended, 45 more minutes. Just before serving, stir in 2 more teaspoons of file gumbo powder.

CAJUN CHICKEN GUMBO

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wide casserole or big frying pan and fry the chicken for a few mins to brown. Tip out onto a plate. Add the onion to the pan with 1 tbsp more oil and fry for 5 mins until almost softened. Add the celery and fry for another 2 mins, then tip out to join the chicken. Add the remaining oil, bay leaves and flour to the pan and cook into a paste. Carry on cooking, stirring constantly (with a splash of water if you need), until golden brown, then stir in the spices for 2 mins.
• Gradually stir in the stock until smooth and saucy. Return the chicken and veg to the pan, along with the peppers, cover and simmer gently for 15 mins. Stir in the ham, cover and simmer gently for 10 mins more. Check for seasoning, then serve, sprinkled with the spring onions mixed with the chopped parsley.

GUMBO CASSEROLE WITH CREAMED GARLIC SHRIMP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine shrimp and Creole seasoning in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Cook bacon drippings, flour, and oil in a large skillet over medium heat, whisking constantly, 20 to 25 minutes or until roux is the dark brown color of pecan shells.
• Add 1/3 c onion and next 3 ingredients; cook 5 minutes or until tender.
• Add thyme and nest 3 ingredients; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add shrimp and 4 green onions; cook over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until shrimp are almost done; transfer to a large bowl.
• Add broth to skillet, scraping bottom of skillet to loosen browned bits, Add whipping cream. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes. Add to shrimp.
• Stir in cooked pasta; toss well to combine. Pour into a lightly greased 13" x 9" baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Garnish with additional green onions is desired.

SHRIMP GUMBO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a heavy, large Le Cruset pot or dutch oven, sauté the bacon until browned. Add oil, stir, then add the onion and celery until onion is transparent. Add the bay leaves, thyme, garlic, lemon-pepper, and Tony Chachere's seasoning, stir well, and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken or fish stock, okra/tomatoes, and canned tomatoes. Cover the pot and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the shrimp.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• While gumbo is simmering, prepare the topping. In a bowl, mix together the beaten eggs and milk, then add the muffin mix and stir until just blended. (Note: I prefer cornbread which is not sweet, so I use my own cornbread recipe.).
• Drop the cornbread dough by tablespoons-full on top of the hot gumbo mixture in the pot, leaving the center un-covered. Place in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes and bake, uncovered, or until a knife comes out of the cornbread clean.
• If you like, you can prepare this dish the traditional Southern way by using a deep iron skillet to bake it in, but you can also bake it In a pan with an ovenproof handle. You can also use frozen okra in place of the canned - the resulting casserole will be less soupy and nicely thick. Chicken may be substituted for the shrimp, as well; if using, add the cubed chicken before to 30 minute simmer.
• Note: depending on the size of the pot you use to bake the casserole in, you might end up with some leftover cornbread dough. Just bake up some more cornbread muffins with the leftover! :).