Rainy day gumbo (w/ pics)

With the rain coming yesterday my wife decided she was hungry for a gumbo so I decided to document the process. A good gumbo can be time consuming and labor intensive but it's a labor of love.

Any good gumbo starts with a good stock. Spending the time to make your own is worth the effort as it imparts a lot of flavor into the gumbo.


Making a roux can be tricky sometimes. You want to get it dark enough without burning it so you really have to pay attention. I like using my cast iron skillet with equal parts oil and flour until its a good chocolate color.


Using fresh vegetables for the trinity is a must. I like to add some green onions as well


After dissolving the roux (forgot to get a pic of that part) I walked out to my smoke house in the back yard and grabbed some turkey necks and sausage I started cold smoking the night before in anticipation of making a gumbo. Good smoked sausage is a must in a gumbo for the flavor. Turkey necks were just a bonus.



I let the smoked meats simmer for an hour


While it was simmering I rewarded myself with a cold brew while watching a few of my kids play in the rain. The beer maven at my local Winn Dixie said this is one of their best selling craft beers so I figured I would give it a try.



I like to add some fresh sausage to my gumbo as well.


I deboned the chicken I used to make the stock and added that in. No reason to have the bones in there at this point with as the stock already picked up all of that flavor. I let it simmer for another hour or so until the chicken was tender



While waiting on the gumbo, my little buddy decided to try and catch some shrimp in the water in my flower bed. Yes I know I need to fix up my landscaping.


While the craft beer was good, and I see why it sells well, it didn't quite have the full flavor of my regular go to. I snapped a pic of my wife delivering me a beer. Before you comment on what kind of shape she is in, keep in mind she just had a baby five weeks ago and hasn't got her body back yet.


Enough with the family though. Back to the gumbo. Here it is after simmering for an hour or so


When the chicken was tender I turned the fire off and finished it off with some more green onions


He didn't catch any shrimp but he sure had fun trying.


Time to eat. Here is a plate view. I made sure to get one of the turkey necks in my bowl


And a spoon view


It was probably the best gumbo anybody has ever eaten. Have a great weekend