- Events
- Events Calendar
- Festivals
- Art & Culture Festivals
- Cajun Festivals
- Seasonal
- Fall Festivals
- Winter Festivals
- Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras
- Holidays
- Valentine's Day
- Mardi Gras
- St. Patrick's Day
- Easter
- 4th of July
- Halloween
- Christmas
- Top 7 Christmas Events
- Boudin Carols
- Holiday Lights
- New Year's
- Live Music Events
- Casino Entertainment
- Concert Series
- Art & Culture
- Local Sports
- 2021 McNeese Football 🏈
- Submit an Event
- Things to Do
- Top Ten
- Top 10 with Kids
- Top Things to Do in Fall
- Top Things to Do in Summer
- Top Things to Do in Spring
- Seasonal
- Summer Guide
- Fall Guide
- Winter Guide
- Christmas for Families
- Creole Nature Trail
- Kids & Family Friendly
- Top 10 with Kids
- Casinos
- Casino Entertainment
- Attractions
- Creole Nature Trail
- Casinos
- Museums
- Indoor Activities
- SWLA Boudin Trail
- Downtown Lake Charles
- Outdoors
- Creole Nature Trail
- Swamp Tours
- Wetland Walkway
- Pintail Wildlife Drive
- Golf
- Fishing
- Fishing Guide
- Hunting
- Alligators
- Gators vs. Crocs
- When & Where to Find Gators
- Birding
- Birding Guide
- Online Birding Guide
- Beaches
- Boat Launches
- Parks
- Sam Houston Jones
- Niblett's Bluff
- Lakefront Promenade
- Prien Lake Park
- CPPJ Parks
- 16 Best Area Parks
- Shopping
- Cottage Shops
- Farmers Market
- Nightlife
- Music
- Live Music
- Music Venues
- Cajun / Zydeco
- Music History
- Famous Musicians
- Local Musicians
- Museums & Art
- Museums
- Performing Arts
- Theatres and Performance Spaces
- Performing Art Organizations
- Performing Art Events
- Art Galleries
- Cultural Districts
- heARTbeat Tour
- History
- Historic Guide
- History Museums
- Charpentier District
- Historic App
- Historic Military Sites
- Lake Charles Legends
- Local Sports
- Eat & Drink
- Find a Restaurant
- Restaurants with Take Out
- Restaurants with Delivery
- Restaurants with Drive-Thru
- Top Restaurants
- Outdoor Dining
- Culinary Experiences
- SWLA Boudin Trail
- Brews & Spirits Tour
- Snow Cones
- Eat Downtown
- Outdoor Dining
- Brunch
- Food Trucks
- Creole Cuisine
- Breweries & Distilleries
- Coffee Shops & Brewers
- Brews & Spirits Tour
- SWLA Boudin Trail
- SWLA Boudin Trail Brochure Request
- Boudin Wars
- Traditional Cajun Dishes
- Gumbo
- Crawfish
- Jambalaya
- King Cake
- Regional foods
- Seafood
- Smoked Meats
- Cajun Cooking Terms
- Lodging
- Casino Resorts
- Delta Downs
- Golden Nugget
- L'Auberge
- Hotels
- Camping & RV Parks
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Vacation Rentals
- Lodging Deals
- Trip Planning
- Itinerary Ideas
- Cajun Taste-away
- Lake Charles Nightlife
- Outdoor Adventure
- Creole Nature Trail
- West Side
- East Side
- History
- Family Fun & Festivals
- SWLA One Day Tour
- Charpentier Historic District
- Mardi Gras Intinerary
- Local Travel Apps
- Events App
- Creole Nature Trail App
- Getaway Guide
- Online Guide
- E-News Sign-up
- E-News Archive
- Special Offers & Deals
- Visitor Center
- Transportation
- Lake Charles Airport
- Bus & Trolley Routes
- Calcasieu Parish
- Lake Charles
- Neighborhoods
- Nellie Lutcher Cultural District
- Sulphur
- Westlake
- DeQuincy
- Vinton
- Iowa
- 360 Virtual Tours
- Photos & Videos
- Weather
- Maps
- Mileage to/from
- Travel Information
Gumbo: What is it & How to Make it
Click here for a Step by Step Shrimp Gumbo Recipe.
Click here to see Gumbo and other Cajun recipes!
What is Gumbo?
Gumbo is a type of spicy stew typical of Louisiana. It is a staple that is cooked up in big cast iron pots and stirred with large wooden spoons—or boat oars, depending on how many people are going to be fed. The dish consists of two basic ingredients: broth and rice. While this may sound boring and limited, gumbo is actually a dish with 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 seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab, and oysters.
The rice used in gumbo is prepared separately and only added to the dish at the time of serving. Gumbo is consumed primarily during winter months because its hearty consistency makes it a great choice for cold days. Also, the dish requires a long cooking time, as the broth must be left to simmer for hours to achieve the appropriate thickness.
One interesting yearly tradition centers on the preparation of gumbo; it is the annual Fat Tuesday Run or Courir de Mardi Gras. Usually held in rural communities, it is a tradition that dates back to Medieval France. A parade of Mardi Gras celebrators, often in costumes, go from house to house collecting ingredients for their gumbo by performing dances and chasing a chicken. The community of Iowa, LA still hosts such a parade.