SAUSAGE OKRA GUMBO RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle chicken liberally with Cajun seasoning on prepared sheet pan. Roast chicken for 15 minutes.
• Combine oil and flour in a large cast-iron or enameled Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, whisking frequently, until it reaches a milk chocolate brown, about 30 minutes.
• Continue to cook the roux until it reaches a dark chocolate brown color, then add the onions, celery, bell peppers and half of the okra. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, then add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 5 minutes.
• Add the sausage, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and bay leaves and stir to combine. Add chicken stock and beef stock and bring to a roaring boil. Add the chicken, green onions, cayenne and remaining okra.
• Simmer for 1 hour, then remove the chicken thighs. Take the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Stir the chicken back into the pot along with the file powder. Skim off any excess grease that has accumulated at the top before serving. Sprinkle with more file powder as garnish.

Steps:

• To make the gumbo, heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the chicken and sausage. Brown on all sides, remove and set aside.
• Heat a little more oil if needed in the pan and add the onion, celery and pepper. Fry for 5–10 minutes, stirring regularly until softened. Add the garlic, Cajun seasoning and thyme and stir continuously for about 20 seconds or so, until aromatic.
• Return the chicken, sausage and any juices back to the pan. Add the flour and stir to coat all of the ingredients. Add the stock (you will only need half of it if you don't include the okra), tomatoes and okra, if using, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer with the lid on for 15–20 minutes until cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add the prawns (do not add prawns now if you are freezing the gumbo, see tip) and cook for a few minutes until they are pink and just cooked.
• To make the cornbread, preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6 and grease two 6-hole muffin tins or one 12-hole muffin tin with a little melted butter.
• Heat about a tablespoon of the butter in a small frying pan. When it starts to foam, add the spring onions, sweetcorn and chilli and fry for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sweetcorn is golden.
• In a small bowl, mix together the polenta, flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the soured cream with the eggs, milk and remaining melted butter until smooth. Fold the dry polenta mixture into the soured cream mixture until you have a smooth batter and then stir in the sweetcorn mixture until evenly mixed. Divide the mixture between the holes in the muffin tins and bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes until golden and cooked through.
• Garnish the gumbo with the amaranth and spring onions and serve with the lime wedges and muffins alongside. Store any leftover cornbread in an airtight container for up to 3 days.