Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

I realize that this recipe is coming out a little too late if anyone was looking to make it for Mardi Gras this year, but it's worth having in your arsenal and it's something you could make any day of the year and be happy with.

When we lived in New Orleans we were introduced to many new foods. Many of them were traditional southern style dishes and I fell in love with the deep richness that so often accompanied the meals we tried. Gumbo was one of my favorites because the ingredients were fairly simple but there was so much depth to it.

I love the process of making a roux. Whisking together oil and flour and then watching it turn from a light brown into a deep chocolate color. The smell changes too as it slowly cooks; an almost nutty scent to start and then changing to a scent I can't even describe well, but it's aroma fills the kitchen and is completely unique to this process. The process takes time too. You whisk constantly, ensuring that it doesn't burn and questioning every minute if you've gone far enough. It might take a few trials to get it right too, but eventually you'll just know when it's right.

For this version of gumbo I used some smoked turkey stock that I had canned earlier this year. I was worried that it might be too overpowering but it ended up being a perfect combination with the other flavors and it's something no one else can replicate without creating their own smoked stock. Chicken stock would be the next best thing but if you're ever around, we'll make this one day and then you'll know what I'm talking about.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
adapted form myrecipes.com

Ingredients

1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
4 skin on, bone-in chicken thighs
Canola oil
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped 
2 celery ribs, sliced
2 quarts chicken stock
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Filé powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce
4 green onions, sliced


Directions
Cook sausage in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until browned. Drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in Dutch oven. Set sausage aside.

Cook chicken in reserved drippings in Dutch oven over medium heat 5 minutes or until browned. Remove to paper towels, reserving drippings in Dutch oven. Set chicken aside.

Add enough oil to drippings in Dutch oven to measure 1/2 cup. Add flour, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 20 to 25 minutes, or until roux is chocolate colored.

Stir in onion, bell pepper, and celery; cook, stirring often, 8 minutes or until tender. Gradually add 2 quarts stock, and bring mixture to a boil; add chicken, garlic, and next 6 ingredients. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Remove chicken; let cool.

Add sausage to gumbo; cook 30 minutes. Stir in green onions; cook for 30 more minutes.

Bone chicken, and shred meat into small pieces; return chicken to gumbo, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves.

Remove gumbo from heat. Sprinkle with filé powder, if desired. Serve over hot cooked rice. Garnish, if desired.