March 5 - A Comforting Bowl of Shrimp Gumbo

One Southern dish that I have learned to like is shrimp gumbo.

This dish is not too appealing (being a thick, dark soup). But when it's cold and snowing outside, this warm dish is comforting.

Shrimp Gumbo

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter

1 lb small pod okra, sliced

1 carrot, diced

6 small zucchini, diced

1 large onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

4 tbsp oil

4 tbsp flour

6 cups water

1 dry sweet sausage, cut-up

1 tbsp basil

1 tbsp thyme

1/4 cup parsley

4 bay leaves

4 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp salt

1 tsp ground pepper
1 lb shrimp, cut-up

additional thickening:

4 tbsp flour mixed with 1/4 cup water

Cooking time (45 minutes)

In a large non-stick pan, saute the vegetables
with 3 tbsp butter.

In a large stainless pot, heat the oil and flour and stir constantly until it is dark in color.

Slowly add 6 cups of water (1 cup at a time, then stir)

Add the sausage.

Add the sauteed vegetables.

Add the thyme, parsley, basil and bay leaves.

Add the soy sauce, salt and pepper.

In the last 5 minutes, add the shrimp.

If the dish is not thick enough, add the thickening mixture of flour and water. Serve warm with white rice.