Spicy Southern Gumbo Stew

A New Orleans specialty, this thick Creole stew typically includes okra, tomatoes, meats and seafood. Not your traditional gumbo with a deep roux, but definitely a flavorful stew.

ingredients

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2, 14.5-oz cans chicken broth
28-oz can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 cup water
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp. Louisiana hot sauce
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
16-oz pkg frozen gumbo vegetable mixture*
13-oz pkg andouille sausage links, cooked
1 cup instant brown or white rice, uncooked

preparation

Using Chef's Knife, trim chicken and cut into 1-inch pieces. Heat oil in Generation II (6 qt) Dutch Oven over medium-high heat until hot. Brown chicken in two batches, 2-3 minutes each or until outside surfaces are no longer pink.

Return chicken to pan. Add broth, tomatoes, water, garlic pressed with Garlic Press, hot sauce, oregano, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add vegetable mixture; return to a boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut sausage links into 1/2-inch slices; cut slices in half. Add sausage and rice to gumbo. Cover; simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat; remove and discard bay leaf before serving. Serve with Mini Corn Muffins (see "Souper" Sides recipe card), if desired.

yields

8 servings

source

Pampered Chef, Soups, Stews and Chilis Recipe Card Collection

notes

*Frozen gumbo vegetable mixture is a combination of okra and celery slices, chopped onion, red bell pepper and corn. If you can't find gumbo vegetable mix, I have also used a 14 oz. bag of seasoned corn and black beans (with tomatoes, peppers and onions) along with about 2 oz. of frozen ocra to make up for the gumbo mix.