When you talk about Cajun cuisine, I’m sure you’ve probably heard the word Gumbo. But have you ever wondered what gumbo is?
The word gumbo literally means Okra. French settlers in the Louisiana Territory had trouble finding the usual ingredients for their French dishes, so they substituted common local ingredients. These were mainly fish, okra and shrimp.
Gumbo consists of two basic ingredients. These ingredients are rice and broth. The rice used in gumbo is traditionally white rice that is steamed or boiled. A touch of salt and/or vinegar can be added for flavor.
The gumbo broth is where the differences come in. Broth can be made from a variety of things. A very common type of gumbo broth includes shrimp, crab, and oysters. But the variety doesn’t stop there. There is gumbo broth that is made with chicken, duck, turkey and even quail.
True gumbo will contain okra. While some people may think of okra as a disgusting gelatinous vegetable, this is not an accurate description once it’s cooked into a bowl of gumbo.
The gelatinous fibers of the okra will dissolve when heated and serve as a thickening agent for the gumbo.
In fact, if the okra is really fresh and sliced very thin, there will be no visible evidence of the okra once the gumbo is cooked. The only thing you will leave behind is a wonderful taste. Even if there are whole pieces of okra left in the gumbo dish, it will be very soft. It is not slimy at all and tastes great.
There are alternatives to okra that people will use and try to pass off the dish as gumbo. The usual alternative thickening agent is a powder made from dried sassafras leaves.
But this dried sassafras powder can get gummy when boiled. It should not be simmered in the soup, but added just before serving or sprinkled on each individual plate at the table. This powder is used when okra is not in season. But when sassafras powder is used, the dish really shouldn’t be called gumbo.
So there you have the basics for gumbo. If you like Cajun cooking or are ready to start Cajun cooking, start by finding great gumbo recipes. These recipes are relatively easy to make and can be a delicious addition to your weekly dinner menu.