Gumbo Okra Soup (Printable)

A flavorful Louisiana dish with chicken, smoky sausage, okra, and a rich roux-based broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
02 - 8 oz smoked andouille sausage, sliced

→ Vegetables

03 - 9 oz fresh or frozen okra, sliced
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 1 green bell pepper, chopped
06 - 2 celery stalks, chopped
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced or 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, drained
09 - 2 spring onions, sliced (for garnish)
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

→ Roux

11 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1/4 cup vegetable oil

→ Liquids & Seasonings

13 - 6 cups chicken stock
14 - 2 bay leaves
15 - 1 tsp dried thyme
16 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
17 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste
19 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
20 - Hot sauce to taste (optional)

→ Optional

21 - Cooked white rice for serving
22 - Filé powder for thickening and flavor (optional)

# Method:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour continuously and cook, stirring constantly, until the roux turns a deep chocolate brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Be careful not to burn.
02 - Add chopped onion, green bell pepper, and celery to the roux. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
03 - Incorporate sliced sausage and chicken pieces. Cook for 5 minutes until chicken begins to brown lightly.
04 - Stir in sliced okra and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more.
05 - Add diced tomatoes, chicken stock, bay leaves, dried thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. For thicker consistency, sprinkle filé powder off the heat and stir gently.
07 - Ladle hot gumbo over cooked white rice. Garnish with sliced spring onions and chopped parsley. Add hot sauce to taste if desired.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • Deep, complex flavors that develop over an hour of patient simmering
  • A one pot meal that feeds a crowd and tastes even better the next day
02 -
  • A burnt roux tastes bitter and ruins the entire dish, so have your vegetables prepped before you start and stir without stopping
  • Frozen okra works perfectly but thaw it completely and drain off the excess liquid to avoid watering down your gumbo
03 -
  • Whisk the roux constantly without distractions, especially once it starts turning brown
  • Taste and adjust seasonings at the end because flavors concentrate as the gumbo simmers
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