This delightful Seafood Gumbo is full of shrimp and crab and it has a nice spicy kick. There’s nothing like a warm bowl of gumbo, and I especially like a seafood gumbo.
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Making a big pot of gumbo is a little labor intensive, but it lasts for days and only gets better with time. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon spent at home. Build a nice fire in the fireplace and put your biggest pot on the stove.
The most time-consuming part and the most important part is making the roux. It is a process that should not be rushed. It forms the base of the flavor and you really want to take the time and develop a deep, robust flavor. Making roux can take some practice. Turn the heat up too high and it will burn and you will have to start again.
In addition to shrimp and crab, this Seafood Gumbo is also flavored with the Holy Trinity- (onions, bell pepper, and celery), lots of garlic, a bottle of beer, thyme, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, and lots of Cajun seasoning. Plus there’s a pound of andouille sausage for some meatiness.
Equipment Needed
- 6 to 7-quart Dutch Oven– It’s important to use a Dutch oven with a thick, heavy bottom so the roux doesn’t burn. This Dutch Oven is perfect.
- Fine-Meshed Sieve– for straining the shrimp stock. This set of 3 strainers is very useful in the kitchen.
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Seafood Gumbo
Ingredients
- 2 pounds unpeeled fresh large shrimp
- 1/2 cup butter, divided
- 2 (32-ounce) cartons chicken broth
- 1 pound andouille sausage,, sliced
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle amber beer
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup green onion tops
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 pound lump crabmeat
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Peel and devein shrimp, placing shrimp shells in a large pot. Refrigerate shrimp until needed.
- In a large pot, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add shrimp shells and cook until pink. Then add broth.
- Bring broth to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm until needed.
- In a large Dutch oven, cook sausage until browned. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add oil and remaining 1/4 cup butter to Dutch oven. Heat over medium heat until butter is completely melted.
- Add flour and stir with wooden spoon until smooth.
- Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently until roux is a dark caramel color. This will take 30 to 40 minutes.
- Add onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add green pepper and celery and cook for 5 more minutes, stirring often.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add beer and stir in well.
- Pour shrimp stock through a fine-meshed sieve into Dutch oven. (I like to add it in 3 separate additions, mixing well between additions.
- Add Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves, plus the reserved andouille sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
- Add green onions, parsley, and shrimp. When shrimp are pink, remove from heat and stir in crabmeat.
- Serve with white rice.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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My first gumbo attempt. Too much oil for my liking. Layer of oil sat on top. Flavor was bland. Looked nice as my roux was a dark chocolate color. Took me an hour! Next time halving the oil and adding more Cajun seasoning.
You will not be able to make a roux if you don’t use equal parts flour and fat. I skim the fat off the top before adding shrimp. With this recipe I removed two-thirds cup fat. Homemade chicken stock will make a more flavorful gumbo.
Overall it was a little too salty, but that’s probably because my cajun seasoning was primarily celery salt (Old Bay). Regardless, I haven’t had gumbo this good since visiting New Orleans! This will be my new go-to recipe. It took me over an hour to get the roux a dark caramel color (cooked on medium-low in a dutch oven), but it was worth the labor. Next time I’ll use low-sodium chicken broth and make my own cajun seasoning without salt.
Old Bay is definitely not Cajun/Creole seasoning! Get you some Slap Ya Momma or Tony’s next time.
Thank Slap Ya Momma is everything
Very yummy. Added more Cajun seasoning, chicken broth, and some salt, but other than that it was great! Ran low on liquid, so the extra chicken broth helped.
What is meant when you say “Add shrimp shells and cook until pink.” are you referring to the shell of there shrimp, if so, when do you discard the shells?
An you tell me when you added scallops. Did you pre cook first?
I pre cooked my scallops
Made this but added okra, file and lots of different seafood (scallops,, shelled clams & mussels, etc), double Cajun seasoning, and 2 tbsp hot paprika! Best gumbo recipe ever, making it again tomorrow, and sharing recipe with all the sisters and daughters in law!
Made it tonight and it was really good . I did add okra since I love okra in my gumbo . I’ve never made gumbo before … apparently .. a hit ! I used “ slap ‘yo mama” Cajun seasoning And a bottle of the beer I had on hand .. which was a Michelob ultra .. definitely making this again . A recipe to keep !
Gumbo literally means “okra” so it’s a must. Also, ditch the beer. Don’t “bro” the dish up unless your recreating a gumbo-Ish dish. Great otherwise..
Sounds good minus beer plus file. Making Sunday with crab still in shell scallops and shrimp and sausage….and corn on cob..yum
This was absolutely the best seafood gumbo I’ve ever had. Thank you for the recipe.
Note: Just added a touch of lemon to the shrimp once served and used fresh scallops instead of the crab meat.
OH MY BLOG! This looks absolutely stunning and authentic! I can’t wait to try this recipe!