BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Non-Smoked Recipes => Topic started by: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 11:54:07 AM

Title: New Year's gumbo
Post by: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 11:54:07 AM
Starting the new year off right with a pot of gumbo.

First, you make a roux.  Equal parts of flour and oil cooked over med heat stirring constantly until you get the color of chocolate.
(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr340/lnjrudolph/Smokerpics057.jpg)

Next add the trinity, minced garlic, spices and saute until soft.
(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr340/lnjrudolph/Smokerpics058.jpg)

Add smoked turkey,pan sauteed chicken that had been dusted with cajun spices and browned andouille sausage.
(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr340/lnjrudolph/Smokerpics059.jpg)

Finally, add 2 quarts of smoked turkey stock.  Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer.
(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr340/lnjrudolph/Smokerpics060.jpg)

There is no okra nor file powder added to the gumbo as I don't think it is needed.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 01, 2010, 12:05:25 PM
When i seen the heading i knew it could only be one person  ;D

Looks pretty dang good there buddy  ;D..................the holy trinity  ;D

I gotta break out the Andouille, chicken and get busy on a pot full. And yes your doing it the way its supposed to be done in cast iron  ;D I likes this Beaucoup with good friends, Its Bon temps  ;D


nepascoonass
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 12:21:22 PM
Yep, only things that ever get cooked in that pot are stock, gumbo or red beans and rice.  If you take a look at my spoon in the first pic you can see that my long handled wooden spoon has stirred a gumbo or two against that cast iron. :)

I used to have a roux whisk like KaHonu mentioned in an earlier thread and I liked it but I couldn't find one with a long enough handle to keep from burning my hand with hot roux. :o  My cajun buddy in Lafitte LA makes gumbo and jambalaya paddles out of cypress.  I got to get him to make me one.

KyNola
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Pachanga on January 01, 2010, 12:24:11 PM
Kynola,

Looks like the right pot, the right roux, the right ingredients and the right chef.
Nice post.

Good luck and Cajun dishes,

Pachanga
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 12:35:49 PM
Thanks Pachanga.  There has got to be at least 2 million gumbo recipes out there and they're all just variations on the same theme.  This happens to be the way I like mine.

KyNola
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: HawkeyeSmokes on January 01, 2010, 12:43:59 PM
Looks great Ky.

And I bet it tastes even better!
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Ka Honu on January 01, 2010, 12:55:07 PM
Ky - Freeze and ship a sample to make my New Year as happy as the one I wish you.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: deb415611 on January 01, 2010, 12:59:23 PM
Wow, looks great KyNola! 
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: squirtthecat on January 01, 2010, 02:31:26 PM

I can almost smell it up here in IL!
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: deb415611 on January 01, 2010, 02:48:45 PM
I found it, I found it  .......  KyNola's secret roux receipt :D   http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=8326.msg85934#msg85934

and as an added bonus.... Nepas secret gumbo receipt is in that same thread   ;D

In the freezer I have some smoked chicken, turkey tasso & andouille......    I might need to try this :)
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: pensrock on January 01, 2010, 04:15:31 PM
Looks great, I never allowed my roux to get that color. Next time i will for sure. One question, what is 'file powder'? I have seen it in recipes before but  never knew what it was or tasted like.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: seemore on January 01, 2010, 04:27:36 PM
damm that looks great never done gumbo
seemore
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Ka Honu on January 01, 2010, 04:57:14 PM
Quote from: pensrock on January 01, 2010, 04:15:31 PM... what is 'file powder'?

Pronounced "fee-lay" (and spelled with a little accent doohickey over the "e" that I don't know how to show here), it's a flavoring and thickening agent made from ground sassafras leaves.  When used, it's normally added to gumbo a short time before serving or sprinkled on the gumbo in the bowl.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 06:16:25 PM
My learned friend Ka Honu is exactly right about the file powder. 

Deb- you absolutely need to give this a try.  Once you start your roux, you can't walk away from stirring it.  The "trinity" is diced onions, bell peppers and celery.  The spices in mine are basically salt and cayenne pepper or Tony Chacere's cajun spice mix.  Sometimes if it's not exactly hot enough, I'll add a favorite hot sauce.  It's all up to your particular taste.

Make it once and you're hooked.  Oh yeah, then's there's seafood gumbo..........duck and wild mushroom gumbo.......smoked ham hock and cabbage gumbo(killer!)........gumbo z herbes.....etc etc etc. :D

KyNola
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 01, 2010, 06:57:48 PM
GUUUUUUUUMP
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:29:26 PM
Looks very tasty, KY (even if you didn't use okra!)

Roux and okra (as well as filé powder) are thickening agents, and yeah, the roux is the only one you can't do without
But, "gumbo" is an African word meaning "okra".

I like the base combo of roux/trinity/okra... 
Never was crazy about filé powder; just don't care for the flavor.

----
filé powder
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Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 01, 2010, 07:47:41 PM
Quote from: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:29:26 PM
Looks very tasty, KY (even if you didn't use okra!)

Roux and okra (as well as filé powder) are thickening agents, and yeah, the roux is the only one you can't do without
But, "gumbo" is an African word meaning "okra".

I like the base combo of roux/trinity/okra... 
Never was crazy about filé powder; just don't care for the flavor.

----
filé powder
There's lots of other useful characters here:
accessories/system tools/character map



filé is ground up sassafrass.

Which i just happen to have  ;D  Good for smoking sticks too  ;D
(http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o290/stlthy1/DSCF4365.jpg)
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:50:42 PM
Nepas, the filé powder is the ground up sassafrass leaves...

Is the wood good for smoking?
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 01, 2010, 07:53:13 PM
Yes the wood is real good for smoking. This spring it should be dry enough to cut up for the bighouse smoke.

I need to ask my buddy for some leaves.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:57:38 PM
What would you compare the wood to? is it a mild/strong flavor?
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 01, 2010, 08:03:53 PM
Quote from: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:57:38 PM
What would you compare the wood to? is it a mild/strong flavor?

Mild like pecan with a hint of alder sweetness
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Ka Honu on January 02, 2010, 12:43:00 AM
Quote from: KyNola on January 01, 2010, 06:16:25 PM...The "trinity" is diced onions, bell peppers and celery...

Usually 2 parts onion to one part each celery & bell pepper.

As Ky says, the varieties are pretty near endless.  Roux, trinity, and stock are required - everything else is often either "to taste" or "what's on hand."

Two schools of thought on the etymology of "gumbo" - one (as hal pointed out) claims it's from the Bantu word for okra.  The other (less commonly accepted) school says it comes from a Choctaw work for sassafras.  Either way, it's one of the greatest foods there is and preparing it should be one of everyone's basic cooking skills. TMS(IAGS)&ISTI!


Quote from: hal4uk on January 01, 2010, 07:29:26 PMfilé powder
There's lots of other useful characters here:
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Where dat?
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: squirtthecat on January 02, 2010, 06:59:04 AM

Click Start/Run (or however you get to 'Run' on Vista) and type "charmap".

Brings up this little guy:

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CbvAIVzmFFM/Sz9eACqvSyI/AAAAAAABCP4/TUDxq4oa4-w/untitled.JPG)

You'll find pretty much every character/symbol under the sun.  ♪☼♫¶..
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: KevinG on January 02, 2010, 07:19:48 AM
You realize you just cussed me out in Swahili.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: NePaSmoKer on January 02, 2010, 07:24:15 AM
Quote from: KevinG on January 02, 2010, 07:19:48 AM
You realize you just cussed me out in Swahili.

DOH
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Ka Honu on January 02, 2010, 08:19:07 AM
Squirt - For some reason my brain wasn't functioning very well and I was looking for special symbols in the forum interface. Thanks for the redirection.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: Quarlow on January 02, 2010, 03:00:07 PM
Well that's cool and my kid just put it on my desk top for me to.
Title: Re: New Year's gumbo
Post by: ronbeaux on January 02, 2010, 03:54:50 PM
I love a good gumbo!