It's a good recipe so I'll share - I actually have 20 minutes to just wait around for it to finish.
This recipe requires you have a little cooking experience - need to know how to saute veggies and when to stop. If you are scared on how to make a rue look it up - there are many youtube videos and detailed instructions out there. Also if you want to make this recipe ahead of time, just do steps 1-4. Save the last step for when you want to serve the dish.
Time: 1.5 - 2.5 hrs
Ingredients:
5 slices bacon, cooked & diced (keep drippings)
4 tbsp flour
1.5 qt chicken broth
2 tbsp butter or margarine
2 large onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 small green pepper, minced
3 cups chopped okra
1 lb can peeled tomatoes, drained & chopped (keep liquid)
4 bay leaves
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
dash of Tabasco
dash of cayenne
dash of Worcestershire
2 lb shrimp, shelled & divined
1 lb crab meat or 6 crabs, cleaned (you can buy the cheapest canned crab meat in the store - look by the fish & meat department!)
Cooked Rice
Saltine crackers
Steps:
1. Fry bacon in heavy, non stick saucepan until crisp. Set bacon aside on paper towels.
2. Stir flour into drippings, cook until lightly browned, stirring constantly. This makes a rue. Gradually stir in some broth, avoiding lumps. It should be like gravy. Set aside.
3. Melt the butter/margarine in a soup pot, and add in onions, garlic, green peppers, and saute. Then add okra and tomatoes (drained).
4. Stir skillet (rue) mixture into soup pot. Add the tomato liquid, chicken broth, chopped bacon, and all seasoning. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for about 1 hour (steps 1-4 can be prepared ahead of time if need be).
5. About 30 minutes before serving, add seafood and salt if necessary. Cook slowly.
Serve along with cooked rice, crackers and Tabasco sauce. Enjoy!
Possible substitutions:
I substituted celery for green peppers today, didn't have any peppers on hand. Turns out fine.
You can easily "cheapen" this recipe by replacing some of the crab meat with cooked chicken breast. Just cook the chicken on the side, chop up, and add to the gumbo.
I'll post pictures soon, after the game.