Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup corn oil
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 -2 clove garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 small green pepper, cored,seeded and diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 lb fresh okra, trimmed and very finely sliced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • Tabasco sauce or other hot pepper sauce (with also need this along with the cayenne pepper)
  • 1/2 lb ripe flavorsome tomatoes, coarsely chopped (peeled if necessary)
  • 1/2 cup tomato puree
  • 6 cups chicken stock or 6 cups water
  • 3 lbs chicken, cooked
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels

Method

  • Heat the oil in a large heavy pan and add the flour.
  • Cook over a low heat, stirring, to make a dark brown roux (the color of hazelnut shells).
  • Add the onion, garlic, green pepper and celery and cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the okra, parsley, bay leaf, thyme, salt, peppers, and cayenne and tabasco to taste, then stir in the tomatoes, tomato puree, and half the stock or water.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring well.
  • Simmer for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • During this time, the okra, which is initially slimy, will turn the mixture very dark and glutinous.
  • Meanwhile, remove the chicken meat from the carcass.
  • Discard all skin and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
  • Add the chicken meat and corn to the gumbo with the remaining stock or water and simmer for 30 minutes longer, stirring from time to time.