The Best Gumbo Recipe Ever

Shauna came back from a recent trip to New Orleans RAVING about the gumbo they had at the restaurant at the Ritz Carlton. Of course, she had to have the recipe and used her sweet southern smile to charm it out of the chef. It may be in a cookbook somewhere, we don't know. But as far as she was concerned, obtaining the recipe was a huge victory. And now, it is yours. The trick to gumbo is the roux and the stock. Don't skimp and don't rush. Serve with a loaf of crusty french bread and some salted butter and it's the perfect way to ward off these chilly nights. 

Seafood and Andouille Gumbo
Serves 10-12
1 cup all purpose flour                 
1 cup canola oil
1 lb diced andouille or smoked sausage
2 cups diced onion
½ cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup diced green bell pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tbsp file powder
1 tbsp chopped fresh garlic
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tbsp Worcestershire
1 tbsp Tabasco
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
3 bay leaves
8 cups seafood or shrimp stock
1 lb crawfish tails
1 lb medium peeled shrimp
1 lb jumbo lump crab
3 cups cooked rice
1 bunch chopped parsley
1 bunch sliced green onion

• Make a roux by heating oil in a heavy bottomed cast iron pot over high heat. Whisk flour in to the hot oil. Reduce heat to medium and continue whisking until the roux turns deep brown, about 15 minutes.
• Add onions to the roux and stir. Reduce heat to medium low and continue until the roux is a dark brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the smoked sausage and stir for 1 minute.
• Add the celery, bell peppers, onion, garlic, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Add the thyme, seafood stock and bay leaves. Bring the gumbo to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally and skim off the fat.
• Add Worcestershire, file powder and Tabasco. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 45 minutes, continuing to skim the fat off the top Add seafood and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves and serve over rice, garnish with parsley and green onions.