My gumbo seems like it's lacking something, but I don't know what

[jonessoda]

I've got lots of chicken and some sausage in there, onion, bell pepper, hot pepper, tomato, garlic, and parsley. I started it off with a roux and put in lots of okra, too. Going to add hot sauce after it simmers a bit. But it just feels like I'm missing something. What do I need?

There's already plenty of meat, so don't need that or seafood...

 

[So]

Salamander. Add salamander.

 

[txrandom]

Gumbo File!! It seems like plenty of stuff to me. My dad made some gumbo with half the ingredients you did, and it tasted great.

 

[djheater]

The taste of gumbo, like any stew, emerges after a long simmer. I always find dishes of that nature taste so much better the next day.

 

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: djheater
The taste of gumbo, like any stew, emerges after a long simmer. I always find dishes of that nature taste so much better the next day.

It'll be spending at least 2 hours on the stove simmering, but it's gotta be eaten today, 'cause we've got no leftovers and we're too broke to go out, and this is what's cooking.

Originally posted by: txrandom
Gumbo File!! It seems like plenty of stuff to me. My dad made some gumbo with half the ingredients you did, and it tasted great.

I'll forgive you, since you're from Texas, but it's a cardinal sin against cooking to add both file and okra to a dish. It's like an old man in a bra and fishnets: it's just wrong.

 

[mattocs]

Eye of newt.

 

[Baked]

You need to put in som yummy rhubarb.

 

[jmdeathsquad]

gumbo needs thyme

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: jmdeathsquad
gumbo needs thyme

Yea, what kind of seasoning have you done?

 

[mrchan]

salt?

 

[BooGiMaN]

human meat....mmm delicious and tender human meat......oh crap did i just post this on a public internet forum.....

 

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: jmdeathsquad
gumbo needs thyme

I don't think so. Thyme won't go too good.

Seasoning is, as I said, parsley and hot peppers, and I'll add some hot sauce, pepper, and some Tony Chachere's after it simmers a bit.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

where's the celery?

 

[lizardth]

My dad adds egg to his. Seperate out some of the liquid and bring it to a low simmer in another pot and slowly add eggs one at a time. Don't stir just let them cook. It is delicious!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: jonessoda

Originally posted by: djheater
The taste of gumbo, like any stew, emerges after a long simmer. I always find dishes of that nature taste so much better the next day.

It'll be spending at least 2 hours on the stove simmering, but it's gotta be eaten today, 'cause we've got no leftovers and we're too broke to go out, and this is what's cooking.

Originally posted by: txrandom
Gumbo File!! It seems like plenty of stuff to me. My dad made some gumbo with half the ingredients you did, and it tasted great.

I'll forgive you, since you're from Texas, but it's a cardinal sin against cooking to add both file and okra to a dish. It's like an old man in a bra and fishnets: it's just wrong.

Say what? After thirty plus years as a Chef working all over the country, I've never heard of any rule saying not to add file to a dish with okra. If thats your preference fine but I and my patrons like file in the Gumbo.

 

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Say what? After thirty plus years as a Chef working all over the country, I've never heard of any rule saying not to add file to a dish with okra. If thats your preference fine but I and my patrons like file in the Gumbo.

I guess tastes are different around the country, but my mother's side of the family has lived in Acadiana and related areas (Biloxi, Miss., Baton Rouge, LA., New Orleans, LA., and a lot of deep Louisiana areas) for generations, and every living relative on that side agrees, file and okra in a single dish is wrong.

Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
where's the celery?

Celery didn't feel right for this gumbo. Can't explain it.

Originally posted by: lizardth
My dad adds egg to his. Seperate out some of the liquid and bring it to a low simmer in another pot and slowly add eggs one at a time. Don't stir just let them cook. It is delicious!

I might just try that. That sounds pretty good. Cook it 'til the yolks are cooked through then add it back? Or what?

 

[torpid]

Bay leaf?

 

[JS80]

you're missing Gum, that's why it's called GUM-BO. duh.

 

[Zach]

Originally posted by: mrchan
salt?

 

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: Zach

Originally posted by: mrchan
salt?

Plenty of that in the Tony's.

I decided to stop messing with it, as after I added the pepper and the Tony's, it tastes delicious. Gonna cook for another hour while the rice cooks, and then it should be a great meal.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

make sure that roux looks like chocolate

 

[gotsmack]

rice

 

[BooGiMaN]

i thought gumbo was supposed to have seafood in it....maybe im thinking of another dish...

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: jonessoda
I've got lots of chicken and some sausage in there, onion, bell pepper, hot pepper, tomato, garlic, and parsley. I started it off with a roux and put in lots of okra, too. Going to add hot sauce after it simmers a bit. But it just feels like I'm missing something. What do I need?

There's already plenty of meat, so don't need that or seafood...

It ain't gumbo without shrimp. Sorry.

 

[jonessoda]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
It ain't gumbo without shrimp. Sorry.

Wrong. The traditional is chicken and sausage. Everything else is just an imitation that can't touch the simplicity and perfection.