Description
Homemade Seafood Gumbo is a rich and flavorful Southern dish filled with shrimp, crab, and tender vegetables simmered in a deeply seasoned roux-based broth.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dark Roux
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
For the Cajun Holy Trinity
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
For the Gumbo Base
- 6 cups seafood stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Seafood
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup lump crab meat
- 1 cup oysters (optional)
- ½ pound firm white fish (such as snapper or grouper), cut into chunks
Optional Ingredients
These ingredients add extra flavor and texture to authentic Louisiana seafood gumbo.
- 1 cup sliced andouille sausage
- 1 cup sliced okra
- 1 teaspoon filé powder
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Roux
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add flour and whisk continuously.
- Cook for 10–15 minutes until the roux becomes a deep brown color.
2️⃣ Cook the Vegetables
Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to the roux.
Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
3️⃣ Build the Broth
- Slowly pour in seafood stock while stirring constantly.
- Add diced tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, paprika, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Bring to a simmer.
4️⃣ Simmer
Let the gumbo simmer for 25–30 minutes to develop flavor.
5️⃣ Add the Seafood
- Add shrimp, crab meat, sausage, and okra.
- Cook for 5–7 minutes until shrimp are pink and cooked through.
6️⃣ Serve
Remove bay leaves and serve hot over steamed rice, garnished with green onions and parsley.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT45M
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Louisiana
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl gumbo
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg