Recipe Details

This gumbo from chef-owner Donald Link of Herbsaint in New Orleans owes its flavor to the roux, a mix of flour and oil that's cooked until it's coffee-colored.

Ingredients

Stock

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 3 pounds medium shrimp, shelled and deveined, shells reserved

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 gallon plus 2 cups clam juice

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 2 celery ribs, chopped

• 1 large carrot, chopped

• 8 bay leaves

Roux

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup vegetable oil

Gumbo

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided

• 4 large garlic cloves, minced

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• 2 celery ribs, finely chopped

• 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes

• 1 large green bell pepper, finely chopped

• 1 pound okra, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

• 1 tablespoon chile powder

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 1 1/2 tablespoons filé powder (see note)

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper

• Kosher salt

• Shelled and deveined shrimp (from the stock)

• 1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over

• Steamed rice, for serving

• Sliced scallions, for serving

• Tabasco, for serving

Description

1. In a stockpot, heat the oil. Add the shrimp shells and cook over high heat until starting to brown, 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook until it begins to stick to the pot, 2 minutes. Add the clam juice, onion, celery, carrot, and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat for 25 minutes. Strain the stock into a heatproof bowl.

Make the roux

1. In a saucepan, whisk the flour with the oil to make a paste. Cook over moderate heat, stirring often, until the roux turns golden brown, 30 minutes. Increase the heat to moderately high and cook, stirring, until the roux is dark brown, 10 minutes longer. Scrape the roux into a bowl and reserve.

Make the gumbo

1. In the stockpot, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the garlic, onion, and celery; cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add the roux and cook until bubbling. Stir in the stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderately low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until no floury taste remains; skim off the fat.

2. In a skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the green pepper, okra, chile powder, paprika, filé, oregano, thyme, cayenne, and white pepper. Season with salt and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until fragrant, 5 minutes. Stir in a ladleful of the liquid from the stockpot, scrape up the browned bits, and transfer to the gumbo in the pot. Simmer, stirring, for 1 hour.

3. Add the shrimp to the pot and cook until just white throughout, 2 minutes. Stir in the crab; season with salt.