Gumbo is one of the most quintessential Louisiana staples – especially when the weather turns crisp and cool. If you’ve never had gumbo, it’s a type of spicy stew typical of Louisiana. The dish consists of two basic ingredients: broth and rice. Gumbo has an extremely large variety of flavors and consistencies, depending on how the broth (or roux) is made. Variations of the roux-based soup include chicken and smoked sausage, shrimp and okra, wild duck and smoked sausage, even rabbit or a seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab and oysters.
Cooking gumbo takes a while, and the flavors usually pop even more the next day, so everyone always makes enough for seconds! Some families have gumbo over the holidays, and you always have to be on the lookout for the greedy cousin who “dredges” the pot and gets all the good stuff that has settled on the bottom of the gumbo pot!
If you are interested in learning how to make gumbo, check out this helpful video tutorial. Or, check out this time-saving recipe!
Pro Tip:
Find those places that put their love language into their gumbos – the family-owned restaurants with their own secret recipe that’s been passed down for decades. You can taste the love in the roux and in their lit-up faces when you ask about their gumbos. So, when you’re in town, ask a local where their favorite gumbo is found in #LouisianasPlayground! Check out places to eat in Southwest Louisiana.
