re: Gumbo with tomatoes

Lots of folks, mostly Cajun, put sweet potatoes in gumbo. When we have a gumbo dinner for a charity event, we put out potato salad and rice and sometimes, sweet potato, too, all on the side, so the guests can take their pick. Different folks do different things.

I'm not a fan of tomatoes in gumbo as everyone knows. I think they serve to dilute it in a way that doesn't appeal to me. It's certainly not disgusting or inedible, though I must admit that rotel tomatoes in gumbo turns me off completely. I'll eat a creole gumbo if it's otherwise good. I've not had one that I like as much as gumbo without them, though.

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But then my Uncle had a sweet potato farm just outside Opelousas.

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Sweet potatoes from that area are so darn good.

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It seems from past discussions that a fair number of folks, especially around Opelousas, put sweet potato in gumbo.

I'm a potato salad man myself, but I'm willing to try it.

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Entire side of my mom's family is from St. Landry Parish (she grew up in Opelousas), I've seen her put regular potato salad (non crunchy) in gumbo and mix pork n beans into her round steak and rice n gravy, but never a sweet potato in gumbo. And she likes sweet potatoes.

The next time I make a chicken & sausage I think I'll add some tomatoes and some spinach. Who knows, I might even Rotel it.

Some of y'all moe foes act like people just started making gumbos with tomatoes like ten years ago.