Ultimate Time-consuming Seafood Gumbo

Total Time: 7 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• shrimp shells, from 1 pound of shrimp (41-50's)
• 5 quarts water
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 onions, quartered
• 1/2 bunch celery, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh parsley
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf, crushed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped green bell peppers
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons file powder
• 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
• 7 cups stock (above recipe)
• 1 lb sliced okra
• 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 cup crabmeat
• 1 lb cooked and peeled crawfish tail
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined, shells reserved for stock
• hot pepper sauce
• salt & pepper
• seafood creole seasoning

Recipe

• 1 stock: bake shrimp shells at 375 degrees f until dried and starting to brown on edges.
• 2 about 15 to 20 minutes.
• 3 put everything into an 8-quart pot and bring to a boil.
• 4 reduce heat to low and cook 5 hours, uncovered.
• 5 when stock is cooled, drain all liquid from the vegetables (i squeezed by hand), then discard all solids.
• 6 gumbo: combine the cayenne, and black peppers, paprika, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and salt in small bowl.
• 7 in a heavy pot, 6 quart or larger, heat oil over medium heat until hot.
• 8 add onions, celery, and green bell peppers.
• 9 turn heat to high, stirring frequently.
• 10 add garlic, file powder, and the pepper-herb mixture.
• 11 cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• 12 add tomato sauce and stock, bring to a boil.
• 13 reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 14 add okra and sausage and simmer for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 15 when ready to serve, add all seafood and cook for 3 minutes.
• 16 turn off heat, and let stand for 10 minutes, covered.
• 17 serve over long-grain rice.