Saturday Afternoon Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

For the chicken:

• 1 lb bonless skinless chicken thigs
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the gumbo base:

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen sliced okra
• 1 pound andouille sausage, cut on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• Sliced scallions, for garnish
• Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

For the chicken:

1. Place the chicken pieces in a large pot; cover with the broth, water, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to medium low; simmer until the chicken is tender and just cooked, about 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a plate to cool. Strain the broth and skim off any excess fat. Reserve 4 cups for the gumbo. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones and discard; set the chicken pieces aside.

For the gumbo base:

1. Heat the oil in a large, wide, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until it is hot and shimmers, about 3 minutes. Slowly sprinkle the flour into the pot, stirring constantly with a wire whisk to prevent any lumps from forming. Cook, stirring constantly (and taking care to scrape out the corners of the pot), until the roux is dark brown (it should resemble melted chocolate), about 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Add the onion and garlic and stir to coat the vegetables in the roux. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the bell pepper, celery, and bay leaf; cook until the vegetables soften slightly, about 4 minutes.
3. Slowly stir in the reserved chicken broth, mixing well to incorporate; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir in the tomatoes, okra, reserved chicken meat, and andouille. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, cover the pan, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Taste the gumbo to check the seasoning. If necessary, add more salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve over cooked white rice, topped with scallions and parsley.