Q I used to go to J. Alexander’s every Wednesday for polish gumbo and grilled chicken salad. I have tried to find a recipe for that soup for years with no success. It’s a dark almost black watery, spicy broth with chicken, sausage and okra. Can you help? — Ken Karp, Cooper City
A. J. Alexanders (multiple locations, www.jalexandersholdings.com) isn’t so eager to break open their recipe files. You know, corporate proprietary information and all that jazz. Online research and conversation threads showed that according to one waiter “it’s a pretty traditional gumbo.” The most common denominators I found were: thick like stew, with chicken, andouille sausage, okra and rice. So yes I can help, but no I can’t give you J. Alexander’s gumbo recipe.
The next best thing is a gumbo recipe straight from Creole and Cajun cuisine authority Chef Emeril Lagasse (emerils.com). His classic gumbo recipe is always a favorite at Emeril’s restaurants. I hope you enjoy it, too, Ken. Lagasse points out “gumbo thickness is a matter of personal preference. Some folks enjoy a very thick gravy like sauce, and others prefer their gumbo to be more on the brothy side. Either is correct, make it how you like it!”
I’ve adapted the recipe to include okra, which acts as a natural thickener. Adjust thickness with amount of broth and simmering time.
Emeril’s Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo
Recipe adapted to include okra. Check out Todays Tip for the perfect roux.
For the stock:
1 4-pound chicken, rinsed and dried, cut into pieces
1 onion, unpeeled, quartered
1 rib celery, cut into 2-inch lengths
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 bay leaves
2 quarts water, chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
For the roux and gumbo:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 onions, chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon cayenne, plus more to taste
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 pounds smoked sausage, such as Andouille, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into half moons
1 pound fresh or thawed frozen okra, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt, to taste
Cooked white rice, for serving
Louisiana hot sauce, for serving
File, for serving (optional)
1. Place chicken, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves and liquid to cover the chicken by 1 inch in a large soup pot or small stockpot. Add salt and pepper and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook, skimming any foam that rises to the surface, until chicken is fall-from-the-bone tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Add water if necessary to keep chicken submerged in liquid.)
2. Remove chicken to a heatproof bowl and set aside to cool. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones; discard. Pull meat into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl; refrigerate until needed.
3. While stock is simmering, make roux: In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat; whisk in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, reaching every portion of the bottom of the pot, until roux begins to take on some color. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low and continue cooking and stirring constantly until roux reaches the color of milk chocolate. (The timing here will vary depending on your cooktop as well as the pan you are using; the most important thing is to not let any portion of the roux scorch, and to stir constantly until you’ve reached the desired color.)
4. Add the chopped onions, celery, and bell pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables have softened, 5 to 7 minutes. If stock has cooled by this time, add it to roux-vegetable mixture along with cayenne and bay leaves, and stir to combine. (If stock has not cooled by the time vegetables have softened, set aside to cool; you should always add a hot stock to a cool roux or vice versa.)
5. Once roux and stock are combined, bring to a gentle simmer. Continue to simmer until sauce is thickened and flavorful, about 2 hours, skimming any foam or excess oil that comes to the surface.
6. While simmering, saute sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides. Add sausage and okra to gumbo. Taste gumbo and season lightly with salt. Simmer for 2 hours.
7. After simmering, add chicken, chopped scallions, and parsley to gumbo. Stir well and continue to simmer for 30 minutes longer. Adjust thickness if necessary, then season with salt and cayenne, to taste.
8. Serve gumbo ladled over hot white rice in large shallow bowls, with hot sauce and file at the table for guests to use to their liking.
Makes 8 servings
Nutrition information per serving: 719 calories, 59% calories from fat, 48g fat, 7g saturated fat, 175mg cholesterol, 21g carbohydrates, 4g total sugar, 0g added sugar, 50g protein, 1372mg sodium, 3g fiber
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