Phoenix Rising

Classic Chicken Gumbo

Warming bowl of Gumbo.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Vegetable shortening
• 2 tbsp Flour,all-purpose
• 2 Onions,finely chopped
• 1 Green bell pepper,fine chop
• 5 cups Warm chicken broth
• 8 Tomatoes,peeled/chopped
• 1/2 lb Okra,cut into 1/4″ pieces
• 1 1/2 tbsp File Gumbo
• 1/2 cup Uncooked rice
• 2 Ribs celery,chopped
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Thyme
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 Broiler-fryer chicken, cooked

Method

1. In large Dutch oven, melt shortening over low heat; add flour and cook, stirring, until brown, about 10 minutes (do not hurry; if flour burns, roux is ruined).
2. Add onions and bell pepper; cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Slowly add warm broth; stir until broth reaches a boil.
4. Add tomatoes, okra, rice, celery, salt, file gumbo, pepper, thyme and bay leaf; bring to a boil.
5. Add chicken; when mixture boils again, reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 20 minutes.
6. Stir and cook, covered, 20 minutes longer.

Serves 6.