Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Cajun Seafood Gumbo with Andouille Smoked Sausage


Since we recently celebrated a wedding anniversary I was inspired this weekend to re-create one of the dishes we enjoyed on our last anniversary, which we celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana.
I made a variation of Chef Paul Prudhomme's "Cajun Seafood Gumbo with Andouille Smoked Sausage."

I always wanted to eat at K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, as I loved to watch Paul Prudhomme cook on TV from the early 80's.


He was influential in introducing regional Louisiana Cajun and Creole recipes into popularity throughout the United States and the world!

This recipe is taken from his "Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchens" cookbook. If you search you might be able to find a vintage copy to order.


Cajun Seafood Gumbo With Andouille Smoked Sausage

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery

Seasoning mix:
2 whole bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoons ground red pepper- preferably cayenne
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 1/2 cup basic seafood stock -- I substituted chicken stock
1 pound andouille smoked sausage -- or smoked Polish sausage such as Kielbasa, sliced into bite-size rings
( I used "Amylu" brand Andouille Chicken Sausage that I bought in Costco --it was delicious!)
1 pound peeled medium shrimp
I dozen medium to large oysters in their liquid, about 9 ounces
3/4 pound crab meat -- shells removed (Instead of the oysters and crab I used two 6.5 oz cans of chopped clams and their liquid)

2 1/2 cups cooked basic rice

Combine the onions, bell peppers, and celery in a medium-size bowl, and set aside. In a small bowl combine the seasonings mix ingredients; mix well and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat until it begins to smoke, about 5 minutes. Gradually add the flour, whisking constantly with a long-handled metal whisk. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until roux is dark red-brown to black, about 2 to 4 minutes, being careful not to let it scorch or splash on your skin. Immediately add half the vegetables and stir well. Continue stirring and cooking about one minute.



Then add the remaining vegetables and cook and stir about two minutes. Stir in the seasoning mix and continue cooking about two minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic; stir well, then cook and stir about one minute more. Remove from heat.



Meanwhile, place the stock in a 5 1/2 quart saucepan or large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Add roux mixture by spoonfuls to the boiling stock, stirring until dissolved between each addition. Bring mixture to a boil.



Add the andouille and return to a boil; continue boiling 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes more. Add the shrimp, undrained oysters, and crab meat. Return to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and skim any oil from the surface.
Serve immediately.



To serve as the main course, mound 1/4 cup rice in the middle of each serving bowl. Spoon 1 cup of the gumbo over the top, making sure each person gets an assortment of the seafood and andouille.

Even though I substituted some of the ingredients, the gumbo was absolutely delicious! It was aromatic and spicy, but not overly so. As you can see by my opening photo in this post we had double the serving size for our dinner because we knew we'd want seconds!

All we needed to bring back our wonderful celebration was a jazz trio like the one that surprised us by playing the "Anniversary Waltz" that night in K Paul's in 2007. It was such a memorable night!

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29 comments:

Unknown said...

Pat :d YUMMY!!! The recipe seems simple to make and I am hungry just looking at it. You look great :D

Anonymous said...

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
-Virginia Woolf

Thanks for the recipe and well documented instructions how to do prepare the Gumbo.
You both look great:)
Gisela

Anonymous said...

Pat, I love your post with the recipe, it looks so good. I'm not sure I would tackle a recipe that big. Smile.

Thank you for your sweet comment on yesterdays post. My aunt is a wonder. Your mom seems like she is a wonder too. Wow, to her good eyesight. lol

Hugs...Jeanne

Vee said...

I used to watch Paul years ago, too. He would have his stool set up near the stove or counter and just create with an efficiency that astonished me.

Loved seeing your picture with your honey. You are such a cute couple!

Vee said...

Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying the first song on your playlist? I know a lot of old songs, but I don't recall ever having heard that one before.

Judy said...

Cajun seafood gumbo sounds (and looks) wonderful. I'm not all that familiar with Cajun-style foods...but this looks great!

Anonymous said...

That's me knocking at your door. I love, love, love seafood gumbo. The smell of yours showed me the way to your door.

GMG said...

Hi Pat! Wow! I'm going to try this seafood gumbo next weekend!! It will ruin my diet, but well... ;))
Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Ok...I'm hungry now! Looks yummy...great food for a cold day!

Louise said...

Your a great cook Pat. How I would love to visit New Orleans. My brother went on a business trip there a few years back, and loved every minute, not the work but his free time to enjoy the experience. x

Salmagundi said...

That recipe looks really good! I once ate at P. Prudhome's sister's restaurant somewhere in Louisiana. What a treat! Also, I enjoyed the post about the postcard exchange - looks like fun. Sally

Anonymous said...

I can smell it cooking from here :)

Marg said...

Sometimes I'm too scared to try new things unless I'm with company and they introduce me to new foods.

I think I would like to come to NY and tour with you and eat all the wonderful flavors.

We were entertained by a live jazz band while in NY several years ago.

Strider said...

Looks delicious! I can almost hear "When the Saints Come Marching In." Have a good week.

CatHerder said...

omg that looks SOOO GOOOD! My hubby is allergic to fish :-(
I might just have to make it and eat the whole pot myself!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Wow that looks great! What a perfect warming meal for a cool fall night!

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat...can I join the band?? ;)
Hope you're having a good week.

*hugs*

Betsy Brock said...

That looks soooo good...I can almost smell it!

Praying for your nephew...

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to recreate the meal. Your gumbo looks SCRUMPTIOUS!

Paz

Beth Leintz said...

We ate at KPauls back in 1996. I fell in love with the breads. I bought the cookbook and decided I was going to cook my way through it front to back, but stopped when I got to the breads with yeast- too hard for me!

Your gumbo looks delish!

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

I loved the picture of you guys in New Orleans. You have made me hungry with your Gumbo. Yummy. You know that now everytime I hear about NYC I think of you. Hugs

steviewren said...

That pot of gumbo looks so yummy! It's been a long time since I did, but I can make a mean seafood creole myself. Note to self....cook something good soon, because Pat is making me very hungry!

Do you and hubby take a trip every year on your anniversary? Nice.

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Pat!
That looks so good! I bet it was absolutely divine!! I can almost smell it. Can you send gumbo in the mail LOL!
Hugs, Sherry
Great photo of you and your sweetie!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, every time I visit your blog I get so hungry!!! If you ever open a restaurant, be sure to post it on your blog... I'm pretty certain that all of us in blogland will be regulars!... Donna

Tracy said...

Hi, Pat! Nothing like the real deal! mmm...I don't eat meat anymore though--LOL! My hubby Norwegian hubby would love this! Thanks for sharing :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Proud Italian Cook said...

I'm so impressed with your gumbo Pat! It looks like it could be in any New Orleans resturant!! Boy, does that look good!
Love the pic of you and your hubby, soooo cute you two are!

Rue said...

Hi Pat :)

I'm not normally a big Gumbo fan, but yours looks yummy! You two are so cute together :)

hugs,
rue

SandraRee said...

Pat, this recipe looks delicious, especially since the weather is turning cooler. I'm so glad you included pictures. :)

Anonymous said...

Oo my mouth is watering. I love gumbo and stuff like blackened catfish. Unfortunately here they put celery in tinned clam chowder -I have an allergy, I have to think again.

That was wonderful. Thank you.