"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (2024)

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"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (1)

Sandy

Rating: 5 stars

01/01/2017

This is delicious! And is just what it says--a quick and easy gumbo. If you want the authentic, the go the long, time-consuming route and quit complaining! This is the third New Years we have made it. It's now a tradition to have this with Hoppin' John to start the new year!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (2)

Kathy

Rating: 1 stars

10/10/2015

I'm looking for GUMBO!!! WHERE'S THE OKRA????

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (3)

brenro

Rating: 4 stars

04/01/2014

I'm not even Cajun and I know to get a chocolate brown roux takes 35-40 minutes. Black eyed peas? No okra? I don't know what this is but I wouldn't call it gumbo. Update: I will never rate a recipe before I try it again. Southern Living editors, I owe you an apology. This was very good. I doubled the amount of Cajun seasoning and added some cayenne. The chicken broth was simmered with the shrimp shells for half an hour. Adding the flour to hot oil gave me a nice deep brown roux in no time. I still wouldn't call this an authentic gumbo but whatever it is, I'll be making it again.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (4)

terry311

Rating: 1 stars

02/28/2014

I can't believe Southern Living is calling this "gumbo"! This is some type of watery soup, but NOT any type of real gumbo. Please, if you want real gumbo recipe, DO NOT EVER put black-eye peas in it (those are to be made by themselves, as a main course or a side), it needs to be thicker, it needs to be cooked for at least 3 hours (the veggies should not still be in big pieces, you need to cook down ingredients as you add them, and okra is a good addition for flavor and texture-- you can even fry it down first to get rid of some sliminess), you need cayenne, many people add tomatoes, AND YOU DO NOT LEAVE THE TAILS ON THE SHRIMP. why have people started doing this in the last decade? who wants to put their fingers into a bowl of anything, fish out a shrimp, bite it off from the tail, make a pile of tails on the table somewhere, then do it all over again??? As another poster said, nola.com has good REAL gumbo recipes, as do lots of other new orleans websites.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (6)

JamesHeffker

Rating: 2 stars

02/16/2014

What? Sounds interesting. Black eyed peas, sausage, and shrimp?

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (7)

bbqguy

Rating: 2 stars

03/19/2013

The taste was okay but the consistency was that of a very thin soup. Not like any gumbo I've ever had. 12 cups of chicken broth probably did this one in. Not to be repeated at my house.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (8)

toposmom

Rating: 5 stars

01/27/2013

I'm giving this 5 stars because it it a good recipe but I must say something about the making of a roux. I'm from New Orleans and having been making roux most of my life. I can tell you this...there is NO way you can make a chocolate colored roux in just 5 to 7 minutes.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (9)

gsgameco*ck

Rating: 5 stars

12/29/2012

This was excellent. Made it twice. Doubled the amount of black eyed peas the 2nd time and just used a pot of rice. Easier that way. Also used chicken thighs the 2nd time instead of breast the first time. The thighs are much better in the gumbo even though I am normally a white meat guy.

Rating: 5 stars

07/09/2012

Made this on hot summer night with fresh black eye peas from the garden, extremely awesome. If my kids weren't eating I would of added more cajun spice.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (11)

kelly2surry

Rating: 3 stars

02/29/2012

This was my first attempt at gumbo. The only other times I've had gumbo were in Charleston, SC, and at a seafood festival - so this recipe had to come pretty far to meet my expectations! It's good, but not stellar. With some tweaking (as should be done with gumbos) I think it'll be great. We love okra, so in went half a bag of frozen. ADD SPICES. I used Zatarain's, and by the 4th tsp I put it back in the cupboard and grabbed the cayenne. Added 2 bay leaves too, and a tbsp of beef bouillon granules because it was so bland. (I am not a fan of chicken broth.) KEEP TASTING until you think it's where you want it!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (12)

Noogabelle

Rating: 5 stars

09/14/2011

This is delicious! We enjoyed it during our Labor Day beach getaway. We picked up fresh gulf shrimp to add and put in some sliced grilled okra as well. It was the perfect dish to enjoy on SEC football's opening weekend!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (13)

bahibektoi

Rating: 4 stars

03/05/2011

Great gumbo recipe, but I would definitely double the spice like the other reviewer recommends. When served alone, I thought the sauce was too thin, but when served with rice, it was just fine. Great Mardi Gras meal!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (14)

jslavine

Rating: 5 stars

02/27/2011

This is a great recipe! The entire family loved it even the second time around. We used smoked sausage/kielbasa instead of the andouille and added okra. I will be sure to make the Hoppin' John the next time as well!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (15)

gardenkim

Rating: 5 stars

02/08/2011

This is a great gumbo, i left out the black eyed peas, just isn't gumbo to me with those. I also added crab meat and 1 can of diced tomatoes to replace the volume of the peas. Next time I'll add about 2 more Tablespoons of flour to make it just a bit thicker.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (16)

tackleshopgirl

Rating: 5 stars

01/28/2011

Excellent. Received rave reviews from family. Did not have Black Eyed Peas, so I just omitted them. Added a little Cayenne Pepper for some heat.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (17)

Mama2girls

Rating: 5 stars

01/23/2011

This was wonderful!!! I will be making this again. Everyone loved it...even my 3 y.o. It was even better as left-overs! Loved the Hoppin John with it, but will double the recipe next time and serve with corn bread. Perfect dish on a cold, snowy day!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (18)

kdbegpow

Rating: 5 stars

01/11/2011

This is one of two recipes that I tried for the New Year. One of the best that have ever been in a January issue. My family loved it. It is a "keeper" recipe.

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (19)

RRSmith

Rating: 5 stars

01/02/2011

Made this over the weekened and we loved it! We too, made the Hoppin John to serve with it. Two adjustments I made; added a bit more creole seasoing to the Gumbo and added a chopped jalapeno to the Hoppin John. We'll be making this again!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (20)

Trufant

Rating: 5 stars

12/31/2010

Made this for the family on New Year's Eve and it was fantastic. I did make the Hoppin' John and some baguettes which went great with this. The family loved it!

"Big Easy" Gumbo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good gumbo? ›

Great gumbo starts with roux, a flavorful thickening agent made from equal parts fat and flour. Once the roux is a deep golden color, add diced veggies and sausage to the mix. Then, incorporate beef bouillon, hot sauce, tomatoes, and seasonings to intensify the flavor.

What are the two rules of gumbo? ›

Thou Shalt Always Use a Bowl. If you use a plate, it is not gumbo it is rice and gravy! Thou Shalt Only Use a Wooden Spoon. There is only one kind of spoon that can enter a gumbo pot and that is a wooden one.

What is a secret spice of gumbo? ›

Recipe Notes

Filé powder – Filé powder, also known as gumbo filé, is an herbal powder made of ground-up sassafras leaves, a common herb found in Southern cooking. It has a tea-like, earthy smell that balances out the rich flavors of gumbo while also adding a natural thickener.

How do you make gumbo taste better? ›

For the most flavor, use stock or broth in your gumbo instead of water. Whether you use chicken or vegetable stock, homemade or boxed, the stock will give your gumbo more depth and complexity.

Should gumbo be thick or soupy? ›

Lagasse points out “gumbo thickness is a matter of personal preference. Some folks enjoy a very thick gravy like sauce, and others prefer their gumbo to be more on the brothy side. Either is correct, make it how you like it!” I've adapted the recipe to include okra, which acts as a natural thickener.

Why do you put vinegar in gumbo? ›

Proteins that cook fast and shouldn't be overcooked (shrimp or scallops, for example) should be added during the last 5 minutes of cooking. One final opportunity to taste for seasoning. At this point, I generally find that a bit of acid will brighten the gumbo. Stir in 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar and taste again.

What kind of rice is best for gumbo? ›

U.S.-grown Rice: Traditionally gumbo is served with plain white rice.

What is the Holy Trinity in gumbo? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

Do tomatoes not go in gumbo? ›

Turns out, your preference for tomatoes in gumbo comes down to whether you learned your skills from a Cajun cook or a Creole cook. (Learn about the difference here.) Cajun gumbo does not include tomatoes in the base, but Creole gumbo (typically shellfish or seafood gumbo) does call for tomatoes.

Can you let gumbo simmer all day? ›

Bring the gumbo to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered for at least 3 hours or up to all day (the longer the better for flavors to blend). The gumbo should be the consistency of stew.

What are the three types of gumbo? ›

Creole cooks in Louisiana usually prepare some variation of three basic recipes: a ''Creole gumbo'' that includes sausages, beef, veal, ham, chicken, whole crabs or shrimp and is thickened with roux and file powder; a simpler ''okra gumbo'' thickened with okra and including a variety of shellfish; and a ''gumbo aux ...

Do you put carrots in gumbo? ›

Spicy, creamy, made-from-scratch, slow-simmered gumbo's got your back and you will be better because of it. In this big mishmash of a gumbo bowl, we've got: carrots, onions, celery, garlic + olive oil to start. canned tomatoes + broth + spices simmered to perfection.

Does gumbo get better the longer it cooks? ›

Cooking your gumbo too fast or too hot

Another old aphorism that speaks to good gumbo cookery is this: You can't rush perfection. Gumbo takes time, and that's because it's best cooked low and slow, namely slowly over low heat.

What gives gumbo its taste? ›

Garlic – A few garlic cloves will go a long way toward the gumbo flavor. Flour – All-purpose flour is what you will need to make the roux. Seasonings – You will need to use a Cajun seasoning, whether homemade or store-bought. You will also need a few bay leaves.

What is the thickening agent in gumbo? ›

Filé can provide thickening when okra is not in season, in types of gumbo that use okra or a roux as a thickener for gumbo instead of filé. Sprinkled sparingly over gumbo as a seasoning and a thickening agent, filé powder adds a distinctive, earthy flavor and texture.

Is gumbo better with or without tomatoes? ›

Turns out, your preference for tomatoes in gumbo comes down to whether you learned your skills from a Cajun cook or a Creole cook. (Learn about the difference here.) Cajun gumbo does not include tomatoes in the base, but Creole gumbo (typically shellfish or seafood gumbo) does call for tomatoes.

References

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