EMERIL'S COUNTRY FILE GUMBO

Emeril's Country File Gumbo image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 1/2 cups Medium Dark Roux, see How To Roux, recipe follows
2 cups diced onions
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 quarts shrimp, crab or chicken stock
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds, browned in a skillet, and drained on paper towels
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage
1/3 cup green onion tops, chopped
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup file powder, or to taste
Steamed White Rice, for serving

Steps:

Heat the roux in a medium-sized heavy stockpot over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onions, celery and bell pepper. Stir mixture until onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in stock, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Add the browned sausage, bay leaves, Worcestershire, hot sauce, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Bring gumbo to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until gumbo is slightly reduced, about 50 minutes. (Gumbo should cook long enough for the roux flavor to mellow and for any floury taste to dissipate.)
Season the shrimp with the Essence in a small bowl. Stir in the seasoned shrimp, crabmeat, green onions, parsley, thyme and basil. Cook until shrimp are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Sprinkle in file powder and cook, stirring, 2 minutes more, or pass file at the table for guests to thicken as desired. Remove bay leaves before serving.
Serve in warmed soup bowls over steamed white rice.