Spicy Gumbo Laya Recipes

GUMBO-LAYA (GUMBO + JAMBALYA)

Steps:

• Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil.
• Once the oil is hot, add the sliced sausage in, and allow it to caramelize and brown for a few minutes; once well browned, remove the sausage from the pot, and set it aside.
• Add the chicken pieces into the pot along with a sprinkle or two of salt and pepper, and allow them to brown in the oil/sausage drippings for about 2-3 minutes; remove the chicken pieces from the pot, and set aside.
• Add in the diced celery, onion and bell pepper, and caramelize it for about 2-3 minutes in the oil, then add in the bay leaves, the Creole seasoning, the cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and stir to combine.
• Add in the garlic and stir, and once it becomes aromatic, add in the tomato paste, and cook for about 1 minute to richen the tomato flavor.
• Add in the sliced fresh or frozen okra, the diced tomatoes with juice, the hot chicken stock, and the browned sausage and chicken, and stir to combine, and allow the stew to simmer gently on low/medium-low, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Now, add in the shrimp (you can season it with a sprinkle of salt/pepper if you wish), and simmer for only 2 minutes more as to not overcook the shrimp.
• Finish by stirring in the chopped parsley and cilantro, and serve over the Fragrant Garlic Rice, with file powder, some additional spice/heat options like hot sauce, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, if desired.
• Fragrant Garlic Rice:.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• 2 large cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press.
• 2 cups jasmine rice.
• 1 teaspoon sea salt.
• ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper.
• 3 cups water.
• Place a medium pot over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil; once hot, add in the pressed garlic, and stir to combine; once the garlic becomes fragrant, add in the rice, the salt and the pepper and stir, and allow the rice to "toast" in the garlic oil for about 2 minutes.
• Add in the water, stir, and simmer the rice, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until tender; turn off the heat, and after 5 minutes, fluff with fork and serve.

SPICY GUMBO-LAYA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage and sauté until brown, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mixture to bowl. Add onion and bell pepper to pot. Sauté until soft and brown, about 6 minutes. Add flour and stir until golden, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, then diced tomatoes with their juices. Bring to boil. Mix in chicken mixture, okra and rice. Reduce heat to medium; cook uncovered until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Mix scallops and shrimp into pot. Cover and cook until seafood is cooked through, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with cayenne, salt and pepper.

GUMBO YA-YA

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 cup of the oil an 8-quart heavy-bottomed pot over medium to medium-high heat. Coat the chicken wings with 2 tablespoons of the Creole seasoning in a large bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of the flour over the chicken and coat evenly, then slowly add additional flour as needed until all of the chicken is completely coated (see Cook's Note). Working in batches, fry the chicken wings until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the wings to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Carefully add the remaining 1/4 cup oil to the pot and heat until smoking (there should be a thin faint white smoke coming off the oil). Whisk in the remaining 3/4 cup flour and cook, whisking continuously, over medium-high heat until it turns into a dark chocolate brown roux. If the roux is browning too quickly, remove the pot from the heat and continue whisking until the roux reaches the desired color. Turn the heat down to low and stir in the celery, onions and peppers with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan, until the vegetables are coated with the roux, about 1 minute. Add the garlic, cayenne, bay leaves, thyme and 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning and turn up the heat to medium-high. Whisk in the chicken stock in three parts to make sure it's fully incorporated. Add the chicken wings, sausage, Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, using a ladle to skim off any foam that rises to the top, until the gumbo is slightly reduced and thickened, about 1 hour. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Combine the green onions and parsley in a small bowl or on your cutting board.
• To serve, ladle the gumbo over bowls of cooked white rice and garnish with the green onion and parsley mixture.

SPICY GUMBO

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups oil and 1 3/4 cups flour in a heavy skillet or pan over low heat.
• Stir constantly until the flour thickens and turns light brown.
• Add more flour if needed to absorb oil and make a smooth paste.
• It takes approximately 15 minutes or so, but be careful to not burn the flour.
• Set the roux aside.
• Mix together all spices in a bowl and set aside.
• In a large 12 quart pot, sauté onions, garlic, bell pepper and celery in 3 tbsp olive oil.
• Cook for approximately 3-4 minutes.
• Add the chicken, shrimp, cat fish and okra (and sausage if desired).
• Cook for approximately 4-5 minutes.
• Add the peppers, tomatoes, seasonings, chicken stock, V-8 and clam juice.
• Simmer, uncovered for approximately 1 hour.
• With a wire whisk, slowly incorporate the roux into the mixture to desired consistency.
• Add more chicken stock if necessary.
• Add the rest of the seafood to the mixture.
• Turn down heat, cover and simmer on low for about 10 minutes.
• In a shallow bowl, mound 1/2 cup rice and ladle the gumbo on top.
• Serve with oyster crackers and a dash of Tabasco sauce.