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    Home » Dinner

    Best Seafood Gumbo Recipe

    Published: Nov 18, 2022 by Radwa · This post may contain affiliate links. 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Seafood Gumbo is the perfect one-pot recipe if you are looking for the most robust flavor of savory saucy shrimp with some veggies thrown in it.

    Have this authentic Seafood Gumbo recipe at home and enjoy the heartwarming spice and vibrant color that you can get from a serving of this dish. The shrimp have that fresh and tender flesh bathed in savory delight and spice, while the celery's leafy and earthy flavor is maxed up by the many seasonings. The simmering sauce is just as flavorful and scrumptious as the rest.

    Overhead shot of a bowl of Seafood Gumbo

    Some think that this recipe is something you would like to have when everything for the day has already been done. Thus, dinner with this dish on the table will seemingly be fulfilling for sure.

    A simple get-together will also be brightened once you get this dish out of the kitchen and into the dining table. You will easily perfect this recipe in no time because it is very much simple to make, so wait no more and add this to your favorite recipe book!

    Jump to:
    • What is Gumbo?
    • Why Does This Recipe Work?
    • Seafood Gumbo Ingredients
    • How to Make Seafood Gumbo - Step by Step
    • Top Tips!
    • Recipe Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What is Gumbo?

    Gumbo is a famous Louisiana cuisine that has a mix of African, Indian, and European touches that create a wonderful stew filled with so much flavor and soup-like consistency.

    Most gumbo is made with a combination of different seafood, mostly crab meat, and shrimp. Vegetables like okra are also typically added. However, making your own version of gumbo for convenience has become a trend as well. Today, people would mostly just have celery and shrimp as their main ingredients, along with other seasonings.

    Close-up of Seafood Gumbo

    Why Does This Recipe Work?

    There are many good qualities that make this recipe a must-try, let us go through them one by one.

    • This is a perfect dish for a scrumptious and hearty meal idea you can enjoy for a weeknight dinner at home.
    • A one-pot recipe. Making this dish at home will not tire you of the countless dishwashing to be done. It is a very simple and clean recipe to try at home indeed.
    • This is a versatile dish that you can serve for several simple occasions.
    • A freezer-friendly dish you can keep for months without getting spoiled. It is so easy to repeat as well, so you can definitely enjoy this dish for so long.
    Seafood Gumbo in a pot

    Seafood Gumbo Ingredients

    Vegetable Oil. Choose any of your favorite or most used vegetable oil for this recipe.

    All-Purpose Flour. Flour is essential in the making of the roux for this recipe. The flour will be cooked together with the oil to create a base that will thicken the sauce of your gumbo.

    Onion. The sweet, pungent nature of onion helps build the flavor of this recipe. Make sure not to forget to add this despite already having green onions in the mix.

    Celery. Celery has a leafy and earthy flavor that serves as an aromatic base for many soup-stew recipes including this one for your gumbo.

    Green Onions. Add a milder and sweeter flavor to the mixture by including green onions.

    Green Pepper. With its earthy and grassy flavor, green pepper will pair well with the celery as this recipe cooks.

    Chicken Broth. Make the sauce of this recipe taste even more robust and flavorful by adding chicken broth.

    Paprika, Salt, Oregano, and Black Pepper. The secret to making a flavorful scrumptious dish is to season it heartily. Hence, do not hesitate to season your gumbo with paprika, salt, oregano, and black pepper to see just how flavorful it can get.

    Shrimp. Shrimp is the only seafood in this recipe, but the flavor it gives is beyond comparison to others. Add a generous amount of shrimp if you are so fond of it.

    Fresh Parsley. It helps in lessening the smell of the shrimp to blend easily with the aroma of the whole dish.

    Cajun Seasoning. Spice and this recipe go well together, and cajun seasoning is the best seasoning out there that can easily spice up your gumbo.

    How to Make Seafood Gumbo - Step by Step

    Step by step photo instructions collage for making the recipe

    One: Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat, and mix in flour until smooth.

    Two: Cook for 3-4 minutes (stirring constantly) until the mixture is golden brown.

    Three: Add onion, celery, green onions and green pepper; stir until combined.

    Step by step photo instructions collage for making the recipe

    Four: Cook for 4-5 minutes, then add the chicken broth, water, paprika, salt, oregano and pepper. Bring to boil; then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

    Step by step photo instructions collage for making Seafood Gumbo

    Five: Add shrimp, Cajun seasoning and parsley, and simmer for 5 minutes more or until seafood is done.

    Top Tips!

    • When making the roux, make sure that the heat is never above medium because the flour will easily get burned. Do not forget that the mixture has to be stirred constantly until it is already golden brown; this will prevent the flour from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
    • Do not try to substitute onion, celery, and green pepper with other ingredients because these three vegetables are what chefs consider the holy trinity of gumbo. They provide the best savory gumbo that other vegetables will not be able to give.
    • Measure the flour correctly. If you do not add enough flour to make the roux, the result of the whole recipe will become watery.
    • Do not try to shorten the amount of cooking time of this recipe. The longer you let this dish simmer in the pot, the more flavorful it can get.

    Recipe Variations

    • Adding okra to your gumbo is known to thicken the sauce more.
    • Along with vegetable oil and flour, use butter in making the roux as well. The butter will make the roux taste nutty and somewhat tender.
    • Cayenne Powder is another good ingredient to spice this recipe up.
    Overhead shot of Seafood Gumbo in a pot

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve this dish with a bowl of white rice for the most satiating meal ever. Pairing it with slices of white bread is also an ideal meal idea. If you have leftover roasted chicken, it will pair nicely with the savory sauce of this dish as well.

    Storage

    To Store: Keep in an airtight container before refrigerating for three days.

    To Freeze: While in an airtight container, freeze this dish for up to three months.

    Seafood Gumbo in a bowl

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make this Gumbo recipe vegan-friendly?

    Unfortunately, shrimp and other seafood are not considered vegan, and vegans don't include them in their diet. Hence, you cannot possibly turn this recipe vegan-friendly.

    How do I reheat my leftover gumbo?

    Simply microwave your leftovers until piping hot, and then it is already ready to be served again with all flavors and aroma still evident.

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    Recipe

    Seafood Gumbo
    Print Pin
    5 from 3 votes

    Best Seafood Gumbo Recipe

    Seafood Gumbo is the perfect one-pot recipe if you are looking for the most robust flavor of savory saucy shrimp with some veggies thrown in it.
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Best Seafood Gumbo Recipe, Seafood Gumbo
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 61kcal
    Author Radwa

    Equipment

    • Pot
    • Chopping board
    • Kitchen knife

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • 1 large onion , chopped
    • 4 stalks celery , chopped
    • 1 green pepper , chopped
    • 4 green onions , sliced
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 6 cups shrimp , rinsed and drained,
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley , chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat, and mix in flour until smooth.
      ½ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • Cook for 3-4 minutes (stirring constantly) until the mixture is golden brown.
    • Add onion, celery, green onions and green pepper; stir until combined.
      1 large onion, 4 stalks celery, 1 green pepper, 4 green onions
    • Cook for 4-5 minutes, then add the chicken broth, paprika, salt, oregano and pepper. Bring to boil; then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
      4 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • Add shrimp, Cajun seasoning and parsley, and simmer for 5 minutes more or until the seafood is done.
      6 cups shrimp, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ¼ cup fresh parsley

    Notes

    • When making the roux, make sure that the heat is never above medium because the flour will easily get burned. Do not forget that the mixture has to be stirred constantly until it is already golden brown; this will prevent the flour from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
    • Do not try to substitute onion, celery, and green pepper with other ingredients because these three vegetables are what chefs consider the holy trinity of gumbo. They provide the best savory gumbo that other vegetables will not be able to give.
    • Measure the flour correctly. If you do not add enough flour to make the roux, the result of the whole recipe will become watery.
    • Do not try to shorten the amount of cooking time of this recipe. The longer you let this dish simmer in the pot, the more flavorful it can get.

    Variations

    • Adding okra to your gumbo is known to thicken the sauce more.
    • Along with vegetable oil and flour, use butter in making the roux as well. The butter will make the roux taste nutty and somewhat tender.
    • Cayenne Powder is another good ingredient to spice this recipe up.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 61kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 606mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1129IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy

      November 19, 2022 at 12:15 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is what to call comfort food!

      Reply
    2. Mary

      November 19, 2022 at 12:18 am

      5 stars
      What other veggies to add to this Gumbo recipe?

      Reply
      • Radwa

        November 19, 2022 at 12:18 am

        You can add carrots, zucchini, green beans or okra.

        Reply

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    Hello! I’m Radwa, A wife and mother. Also, I am the recipe maker and food photographer behind Healthy Life Trainer. I love making new, simple and quick recipes every day.

    More about me→

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