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Healthy(ish) Gumbo - Tips Needed

Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:18 pm
Posted by buzwa
Member since Sep 2006
2467 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:18 pm
My brother in law is coming over for dinner this weekend and he is trying to lose weight. I wanted to cook a gumbo since he has been out of the state for a few years. Any tips on how to cut out some of the fat/calories, but keep a good taste?
Posted by 8thyearsenior
Centennial, CO
Member since Mar 2006
4280 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:22 pm to
I gotta think if you make a seafood gumbo and don't add sausage it has to be pretty healthy. The only thing that is bad for you is the roux and that is only a cup of oil and flour for an entire pot.
Posted by Jones
Member since Oct 2005
90500 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:23 pm to
besides salt, sausage, and white rice, gumbo shouldnt be that bad for you. unless he is a super health guy, gumbo shouldnt be something you have to alter to make it more healthy to eat imo
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38685 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:26 pm to
quote:

I gotta think if you make a seafood gumbo and don't add sausage it has to be pretty healthy. The only thing that is bad for you is the roux and that is only a cup of oil and flour for an entire pot.


You could even cut the oil to 3/4 cup to 1 cup flour. And you could serve quinoa instead of rice although a 50-50 split of quinoa and rice is pretty good.
Posted by CT
Kate Upton's back
Member since Sep 2004
21054 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:29 pm to
quote:

you could serve quinoa instead of rice


Get this shite out of here you dirty hippy.
Posted by NickyT
Patty's Pub
Member since Jan 2007
8612 posts
Posted on 9/18/14 at 11:43 pm to
serve brown rice or an all turkey gumbo
Posted by Btrtigerfan
Disgruntled employee
Member since Dec 2007
21442 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 12:14 am to
quote:

I wanted to cook a gumbo since he has been out of the state for a few years.


Make the trashiest gumbo you can. Let him enjoy it. Take a nice long 45 minute walk after. It's a good way to have a nice conversation without distractions such as tv, and wireless devices.
Posted by Layabout
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2011
11082 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 12:35 am to
You don't have to wring every last gram of fat out of it in order for it to be healthy. Use olive oil for the roux and either turkey or shrimp for the protein, lean andouille for the smoke. Sometimes the absence of fat leads to never having a feeling of satiety and you wind up eating more carbs to fill the void. That's not healthy either.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50111 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 6:59 am to
Posted by Kajungee
South ,Section 6 Row N
Member since Mar 2004
17033 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 7:11 am to
Make a dry roux with no oil. Its not bad.

Don't mess with the rice.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
52787 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 7:13 am to
Gumbo Z'herbes

I cooked it and it was delicious. Maybe hold back on the meat and it will be healthy.

LINK

ngredients
1 bunch mustard greens
1 bunch collard greens
1 bunch turnips
1 bunch watercress
1 bunch beet tops
1 bunch carrot tops
1 bunch spinach
½ head lettuce
½ head cabbage
2 medium onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, mashed and chopped
Water (2 -3 qt.)
1 lb. smoked sausage
1 lb. smoked ham
1 lb. brisket stew meat
1 lb. boneless brisket
1 lb. hot chaurice*
5 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. thyme leaves
1 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. filé powder
Steamed rice
This post was edited on 9/19/14 at 7:15 am
Posted by buzwa
Member since Sep 2006
2467 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 7:31 am to
Thanks for the tips everyone.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 8:25 am to
Swap brown rice for the white rice, and make the gumbo ahead. The fat will rise to the top and is then easily removed. Use more lean protein than usual (more chicken, less sausage), and serve several veg sides. Skip the friench bread or potato salad on the side. Good fresh fruit for dessert.
Posted by BayouBlitz
Member since Aug 2007
15842 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 9:24 am to
Tofu gumbo?

Seriously though, use a lean sausage and cook ahead of time and drain thoroughly and roll around in paper towels to remove rendered fat.

I wouldn't use olive oil, as it breaks down under high heat, and roux can get very hot. Maybe an oil that is an olive oil mix.

Use chicken breast meat. Certainly turkey breast would be a healthier alternative.

Ultimately, I agree with above poster. Make the fattiest, most flavorful gumbo you can. Then work off the calories/fat.
Posted by mouton
Savannah,Ga
Member since Aug 2006
28276 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 9:54 am to
Why is everyone saying turkey instead of chicken?
Posted by BayouBlitz
Member since Aug 2007
15842 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 9:56 am to
I said turkey breast as opposed to chicken breast. Turkey breast is much 'healthier'.

LINK
Posted by mouton
Savannah,Ga
Member since Aug 2006
28276 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 10:05 am to
It is lower in calories but I dont know if I would say it is "much" healthier.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47375 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 10:32 am to
Stick with white poultry meat rather than dark, pre-brown the sausage and drain, take any grease off the top from the meats and he can opt to have a protein loaded bowl and leave off the rice or eat brown. That should be enough, seriously. There's not much roux in one bowl of gumbo unless you make muddy thick gumbo that's more like a stew than gumbo.

If you don't want to brown the sausage, cut it in half pieces, put it in boiling water, cut the heat and let it soak for 15 minutes. Dry it on paper towels and you will have lost most of the grease that way.
Posted by TIGERFANZZ
THE Death Valley
Member since Nov 2007
4057 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 1:07 pm to
Dry roux
Fat Free Swansons stock
Tasso
Skinless chicken
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
78042 posts
Posted on 9/19/14 at 1:09 pm to
quote:

Stick with white poultry meat rather than dark

never understood this. protein is protein right?

seems like dark meat is just less dry.
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