Cheesy Gumbo Recipes

GINA'S GUMBO CHEESE FRIES

Steps:

• For the gumbo: Small dice the celery, onions, bell peppers and sausages. Render the sausages in a large pan over medium-high heat, 5 to 10 minutes. Add your diced veggies and then grate the garlic into the pan.
• While the veggies sweat down, get the roux started. Add the oil to a large skillet (enough to cover the bottom). Slowly add the flour to the oil and mix together. Let the roux continue to cook until it reaches a dark caramel color, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sear the chicken in a small pan over high heat on both sides, then remove to a cutting board, cut into dice and reserve.
• Once that roux reaches the dark caramel color, stir in the chicken stock. The veggies should be done sweating at this time. Add your roux to the veggie mix. Your hot sauce and gumbo file can now be introduced to the mix. Next add your crawfish, shrimp and reserved diced chicken. Allow them to cook in the pot as you reach a boil on the gumbo. Makes 1 gallon.
• For the cheese fries: Preheat a deep fryer to 375 degrees and the oven to 350 degrees.
• Deep-fry the steak fries until crispy. Lay them out on a quarter sheet tray lined with wax paper. Top with the cheese and bake until the cheese melts. Slide the fries with the wax paper onto a plate and ladle 4 ounces of the gumbo on top. Garnish with chives or scallions.

JUMBO CHEESY ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine. Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
• Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Serve with ricotta and chopped basil.
• You can form all of these meatballs a day ahead; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

QUICK 'N EASY GUMBO

Steps:

• Pour a glass of nice red wine and have a drink.
• Put some Italian opera on the stereo and turn volume up.
• Start a big pot of rice, I prefer white rice to serve this gumbo over.
• Rice is on the top shelf to the right.
• Cut meat into nice bite-sized slices, keeping fingers clear of blade.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a big pot and slowly saute meat with garlic and onions.
• Try not to eat too much of the meat while you cook or allow family members to.
• Precooked meats like the pork will speed process.
• Uncooked meats like chicken or shrimp can be quickly boiled in chicken broth and tossed in later.
• Never under cook chicken.
• Saute until lightly browned.
• Add broth to the pot and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to medium and then add all the other ingredients one at a time starting with firmer vegetables first (they need more cooking) and soft last.
• Toss in spices last.
• Cook over medium heat until all ingredients are blended and cooked to your liking.
• Not over cooked or too soft is how I like it.
• Maybe fifteen minutes tops.
• The longer you cook the more the flavors will blend, but I prefer separate identifiable flavors so I cook less.
• Now taste your results being careful not to burn your tongue no matter how hungry you are.
• You're going to need that tongue later.
• Add ingredients according to your liking.
• I like to toss in some of the wine I'm drinking and I always add more garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• Don't make it too spicy or your wife will not enjoy it.
• Serve over rice in big bowls.
• Put salt and pepper and Tabasco on the table for others to adjust flavors to their liking.
• You can now add more Tabasco to your own bowl and give your wife a wink.
• Turn off the TV and try talking to each other for a change.
• Finish the bottle of wine and go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner to aid digestion.
• Enjoy!

EASY GUMBO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large stock pot. Add garlic, celery, bell peppers, onion, oregano, Creole seasoning, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle flour over vegetable mixture and mix well. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in chicken stock, water, rice, okra, sausage, tomatoes, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until sausage is heated through and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in cooked chicken and heat through, about 5 minutes more. Adjust seasonings to taste.

CHEESY GUMBO

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions.
• Caramelize onion and garlic in butter and oil.
• Add smoked sausage and sauté until golden.
• Add chicken and sauté until golden.
• Add tomatoes and mix well.
• Add cheese and stir until melted through.
• Season to taste with black pepper and Cajun seasoning.
• Stir in rice.
• Garnish with green onions and serve with corn chips sprinkled on top.

CHICKEN GUMBO

Steps:

• In several large stock pots, saute celery, green peppers and onions in butter until tender. Add the next seven ingredients; bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. , Stir in the chicken, ham, okra and shrimp if desired. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and okra is tender. Discard bay leaves.