Commander's Palace Seafood Gumbo

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 cups diced onions
• 2 cups diced green bell peppers
• 1 (28 ounce) can of petite diced tomatoes
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 4 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs frozen cut okra, defrosted
• 2 quarts seafood stock
• 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined (use the shells to make your seafood stock)
• 2 dozen oysters, shucked
• 1 lb lump crabmeat
• 2 tablespoons file powder

Recipe

• 1 combine onions, peppers, tomatoes and their juice, and tomato sauce in a heavy 8 quart pot.
• 2 cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 3 add thyme, garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper; blend well, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• 4 add okra. when okra is bright in color and is cooked but still crisp, add stock. bring to a rapid, rolling boil, then lower heat.
• 5 add shrimp, oysters, and crab meat and simmer for 15 minutes longer.
• 6 combine filé powder with 1 cup of the soup. remove gumbo from heat and stir in the file'-soup mixture. correct seasoning to taste.
• 7 served over cooked rice and season to taste with tabasco sauce.