Anytime Chicken and Turkey Sausage Gumbo with Brown Rice
Y’all…
I’m homesick.
It will be 7 years this July that I said goodbye to the only life I had known and trecked across the U.S. I know we are supposed to live a life of no regrets, but I miss my friends who were my family like crazy.
I’ve been coming into contact with a lot of long lost friends over the last few months. Just recently, two sisters that were very near and dear to me. It’s been amazing to catch up with them and see where life had taken them these last few years. But, getting back in touch with people from high school, college and after….well…it makes me miss home.
Bad.
And when I get like that I want to eat something that reminds me of the place I left behind. You would think that Irish food would be my comfort food, but its not. While I find comfort in making it because it gets me back to my roots and shows me where my family came from, I am a product of the South and that is where I find my comfort.
Now, I want to talk gumbo. This time of year everyone is going shrimp and crawfish boils and while thats fine…(and YUM) sometimes I just want something comforting.
And thats where my love of gumbo comes in. The weather outside may be warmer, but this anytime gumbo can be eaten any time of year. Especially on those rainy summer nights.
This one is adapted from an Emeril Lagasse recipe I found last fall. I can remember hanging out with my mom after work, watching Emeril like he was the best thing since sliced bread. I remember telling myself his recipes were way too fancy for me to cook and that I would never be able to master a roux or a dish that needed one.
And I never did.
Until now.
And I even made it healthier.
I started with the roux and vegetable concoction.
And then the broth allowed it to all simmer together.
I used more vegetables, homemade stock, brown rice, wheat flour and boneless skinless chicken thighs for a lower sodium, calorie and glycemic index version of Emeril’s. Although it didn’t get me a trip back home, it sure was some wonderful comfort food.
Ever had gumbo? Do you enjoy it? Tell me all about your gumbo experience. Bonus points if its southern style 😉
Anytime Chicken and Sausage Gumbo with Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp canola oil + 3/4 cup
- 1 lb turkey sausage sliced
- 6 chicken thighs boneless and skinless
- 1 cup wheat flour
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/2 small onion diced
- 1/2 red pepper diced
- 4 stalked celery diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 7 cups homemade chicken stock
- parsley optional
- 3 cups cooked brown rice cook according to directions
Instructions
- In a large non stick or enameled cast iron dutch oven style pot heat the first TBSP of oil over medium to low heat.
- Add the sliced turkey sausage.
- Cook until sausage is brown on both sides, about 6 minutes.
- Carefully remove the sausage and place on a plate. Set aside.
- Place the chicken thighs in the pan with the cayenne pepper.
- Add a little bit of oil if you feel you need it to keep the chicken from sticking.
- Cook over medium to high heat until both sides of the chicken are brown. About 8 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the plan and place on plate with the sausage.
- In the pan, pour 3/4 cup oil and 1 cup wheat flour. You are making a roux.
- Cook over medium heat and continue stirring until the mixture becomes a dark brown.
- After 20-25 minutes your roux should be the color of dark chocolate.
- Add the onions, celery and peppers to the pot.
- You'll cook this mixture for about 5 minutes, or until your vegetables get a little wilted.
- Add the sausage, salt, more cayenne if you wish, and bay leaves.
- Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Stir slow and add the chicken stock.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cut or break up the chicken into chunks and add it to the pot.
- Cover and cook for an additional hour.
- Cook your brown rice according to package directions. Since the dried bagged variety takes about 45 minutes, you should start after your gumbo is its final stages.
- Place rice into bowls.
- When gumbo is done, pour over rice and serve.
Sounds so delicous! I’ve never had gumbo, I was raised in the Southwest, not the South, so it’s a whole different culinary ballgame out here! Gumbo has always scared me because, even though I was raised where spice is rampant, I am a spice WIMP! But I do love a good soup, and I don’t like it bland by any means, just not super spicy! I’m sorry you’re feeling homesick, I hope making things like this helps! Thanks for being my partner on The Yuck Stops Here & as always HUGS!
You can make a gumbo without the spice. I did it when kiddo was younger and it still turns out really well.
I am born and raised in Boston. I can’t even imagine living anywhere else. My family is here and everything I have ever know is here, yet my husband and I plan on retiring to San Diego, which is completely across the country!
I have friends in both places! I want to visit Boston someday. It’s on mu bucket list.
I’ve never had gumbo! I’m just a Midwestern girl who eats a lot of meat and potatoes, haha! But this does look really yummy. 🙂
It’s so yummy!
This looks delicious….we love gumbo. I have never had gumbo with chicken & turkey sausage ~ Pinned
Thanks for the pin! Hope you give it a try.
Looks mighty tasty. My hubs is from OK and would love that sign. We love gumbo and It’s time we had some thanks for recipe.
You are welcome. Thank you for stopping by.
This looks really good! I’ve had gumbo in the past (I’ve visited Louisiana once and tried it. I also dated a guy who was obsessed with Emeril Lagasse – and wanted to cook everything he did.)
I am one of those people who never make gumbo the same way twice it seems.
Emeril does make some tasty, tasty dishes. Glad you found one you adapted and liked. I have certain foods that remind me of home.
So many of his recipes I would love to try, but are a bit much for me.
Omlord! That looks so good! Great combination! I so need to try this one!
Please let me know if you do.
My family would love this. They are big sausage fans for sure!
It is pretty tasty so I dont blame them!
This looks delicious. I’m still trying to perfect my roux but it’s getting better with each dish that I make. I’m adding this to my list of items for this weeks dinners.
I find making a roux with wheat flour is a bit easier.
We love making gumbo! Thanks for sharing this new way to prepare it.
You are very welcome!
Wow, this looks absolutely scrumptious! I love the flavor combination, my hubby would love this! Thanks so much for the recipe!
You are welcome!
I’ve never heard of gumbo before, but it looks amazing! I’m definitely going try it sometime.
I call it ‘Cajun stew’ because that is what it reminds me of.
That looks so good! My hubby is Cajun and he loves gumbo. Thank you for the recipe!
You are welcome. I am glad you stopped by!
I’ve never had gumbo. This looks like a delicious and hearty recipe!
Its a great, filling meal for sure.
This looks and sounds really good. I haven’t make gumbo before, but we usually have most of the ingredients on hand.