File Gumbo Recipe

Ingredients

2 tbsp oil

Chicken, shrimp, andouillee sausage, crab - any single or combination of the above

2 onions finely chopped

2 large red bell peppers

12 cups water

4 cups chicken broth

6 garlic cloves minced

cayenne to taste

2 10 oz boxes of frozen okra

3 tbsp file powder

In a cast iron skillet heat oil , brown chicken ( exception seafood) season to taste and set aside

If using shrimp, saute until pink and remove from skillet…replace at the end just after okra is done

In remaining oil saute onion and bell peppers until softened

Replace chicken to vegetables and add water, broth, bring to a boil stirring occassionally

Simmer mixture about 2 hours..skim off any fat

Stir in garlic and Cayenne

Cut okra into rounds and continue to cook just a few minutes until okra is done

Add sauteed shrimp if applicable

Remove from heat, let cool slightly. Add file powder DO NOT let gumbo boil with file powder…it will become stringy

Serve over rice…serves 10-15