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Shrimp Gumbo

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Shrimp Gumbo

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by Sarah Shatz

Shrimp Gumbo

Photo 2 of 5
by drbabs

Shrimp Gumbo

Photo 3 of 5
by drbabs

Shrimp Gumbo

Photo 4 of 5
by drbabs

Shrimp Gumbo

Photo 5 of 5
by drbabs

  • A&M's Testing Notes: This may be the perfect weeknight gumbo. Drbabs, a former New Orleansian herself, has streamlined and lightened the Cajun classic while still pulling in all the right flavors and kick from...

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  • Chef

    drbabs's Notes: It was snowing this morning so I thought this would be a good night to make a hearty soup. I had some shrimp in the freezer so my thoughts turned to gumbo. In Louisiana, gumbo is practically...

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Serves 2-4

  1. First make a roux. In a large cast iron dutch oven, heat the grapeseed oil over medium-low heat. Sprinkle flour over the oil and stir till it's completely blended. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, over medium low heat, until the flour-oil mixture browns and is dark caramel-colored. (Be careful not to let it burn.)

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  2. Stir in the onions, celery, and garlic. Sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a few turns of freshly-ground pepper. Stir well. Cover dutch oven and let vegetables cook in roux until softened.

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  3. While vegetables are cooking, put shrimp shells into a saucepan and cover with 2 cups of water and good pinch of salt. (Shrimp shells should be barely covered; add more water if they're not.) Bring water to a boil and then reduce heat so that it simmers. Continue to simmer until shells are bright pink.

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  4. To the vegetables in the dutch oven, add the tomatoes, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne, lemon, and Worcestershire sauce. Strain the shrimp stock into the soup, stir, and let simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes.

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  5. Stir in the shrimp and let simmer in the soup till just firm and cooked through, about 3-5 minutes, depending on size. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste.

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  6. Stir in chopped parsley, a couple of drops of Tabasco (a little goes a long way!) and serve in bowls with a large scoop of rice.

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68 Comments on Shrimp Gumbo

Lorigoldsby Reply

My mom called and asked for my old gumbo recipe and I couldn't find it...after searching here, I can't remember if my recipe called for shrimp stock...but it does now!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Hi, Lori--thanks for letting me know! (This is very simple shrimp stock...)

Reply

I just made this for a Fat Tuesday dinner with my husband and a friend and it was really good. It took some time, especially to get the shrimp peeled, but it was certainly not difficult. I did add okra and andouille which may have caused it to take longer with the extra chopping. This will be my new go-to gumbo recipe - thanks for sharing this!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Hi littlesister--sorry i missed this before. Yes, shrimp peeling and deveining can be a pain, but otherwise, it comes together pretty easily. I like your additions a lot--I recently added andouille to it myself. Thanks for commenting!

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Tasty, comforting, spicy and easy! Loved it, really happy to find an accessible gumbo recipe which I could throw together in well less than an hour. Someday I might move on to the more complex versions - but then again, I could just tweak this one to add other goodies. Yum!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, lyonesset, I'm glad you liked it!

Reply

I'm somewhat of a novice and I wanted to test my rather boring limits and this came out great!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know!

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Very delicious. Used a bit more tomato and celery. Red pepper flakes instead of cayenne. Put some chorizo sausage in that had been on the grill. I also confess that I was thinking about shrimp creole originally but did your gumbo. I decided to cook down the gumbo more to make something of a "crumbo". The GF raved about it.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I just saw this--thanks for commenting--what great adaptations! I'm so glad you and your GF enjoyed it.

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This is so delicious, and relatively quick to put together. If I decide to use andouille next time, you andouillers -- when do you put it in? Would you chop it up and cook it with the vegetables? Thanks.

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I sliced the andouille and browned it in the pot before making the roux. It didn't render a whole lot of fat, so i just wiped the pot clean with a paper towel and then made the roux in the same pot. Then I just threw it back in shortly after adding the shrimp stock and let it simmer with everything else. The other thing you can do is, if you're adding okra and sauteing it in a separate pan (I do this and just add it to the gumbo towards the end) you can brown the andouille in that pan first - I did this the second time I made it.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

True confession: I've never made it with andouille--I've never found it here in New York, and my husband doesn't eat pork. But, yes, I think I'd saute it with the vegetables. Thank you so much for trying my recipe--I'm really glad you liked it!

Katherine_photo Reply

Oh this is just the gumbo recipe I've been searching for! It is simple but still flavorful and I can't wait to try it! I have almost all of the ingredients on hand, including andouille chicken sausage in the freezer. I also have some frozen okra so may add that as well.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Hi--I just saw this--thanks so much! I hope you liked it. I love okra in gumbo also!

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drbabs, I made this a couple of days ago and it was excellent! I added andouille and okra and threw in some file powder I happened to have at the end. It was so, so good! Thank you so much for the recipe, I will make this again and again.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Your version sounds wonderful! Wow--file powder--I haven't had that in the house in ages! I'll have to get some the next time I'm in New Orleans.

Ry_400 Reply

Just had this for dinner and IT ROCKED! So so good. This one is a keeper.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I'm so happy that you liked it!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Congrats drbabs! I'm going to try this soon if I can get my hands on some Maine shrimp.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Midge! i hope you enjoy it.

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only Reply

Congrats, Dr B!! What a great recipe. I'm so glad it will be in Book Two. ;o)

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, AJ!

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Beautiful - and pretty healthy too - love your flavors!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Liz--it is pretty healthy!

026 Reply

Cooked a big batch up myself for Valentine's Day, and yes I did use tasso, and I did use okra and a dark roux. Got raves except for two wimpolas who only eat bland foods. It's a mean old world if you are a food wimp.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

pierino, I am honored. I love okra in gumbo, too.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you all--so much--what a week this has been! I hope you try the gumbo and that you like it! (I support the addition of andouille or tasso!) Happy Mardi Gras!

Dscn3274 Reply

Congratulations drbabs! I'm always looking for new versions of gumbo...this looks fabulous!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks!

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

It's raining outside here, making it the perfect weather for this great-sounding dish!!! Many congrats, drbabs!!!!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you, Susan! I hope you enjoy it (and that the sun comes out soon!)

Ozoz_profile Reply

Congrats drbabs - it looks comforting, especially with the cold snap hanging around. Well done

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, KB.

Green_apple_card Reply

Congratulations drbabs! This sounds delicious.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you!

Hib_kitchen Reply

Congratulations! What a fun surprise. I love Wildcard pics! Well deserved.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

It was so fun to get everyone's tweets today!

Ab_sum Reply

Big congrats on the wildcard win, drbabs! This looks divine.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you!

Mrs Reply

Congrats on the wildcard win drbabs!!! That's awesome.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, mrslarkin.

L1010593 Reply

drbabs!! Love this!! (and I made a version of your gumbo just 4 days ago!!) Congrats!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Wow, I'm so honored! Thank you!

Profile Reply

Congrats drbabs! This looks so easy and delicious.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, I hope you make it and enjoy it.

Dsc_0382 Reply

Great, drbabs! Congratulations.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks so much!

Ry_400 Reply

Yeah, Dr. B. So happy for you and can't believe I missed this recipe. It sounds great. Can't wait to give it a try.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, melissa. I hope you like it.

Jc_profilepic Reply

Congratulations, yum!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you!

Sausage2 Reply

Congrats drbabs! This looks awesome! I haven't made gumbo in ages, so this will be so welcome on my table.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

It's great for this time of year.

036 Reply

YAY Dr Babs! Love gumbo and this is perfect timing for Mardis Gras!!!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, aargersi! Let the good times roll!

Dscn0826 Reply

congrats on the wild card win. Great looking recipe

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Tom.

Dsc01510 Reply

You know who loves this...without bay.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, Love. I'll leave out bay for you any time.

Img_1958 Reply

Congratulations, drbabs!! This looks and sounds amazing. Looking forward to trying it!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

I hope you do--let me know!

52 Reply

Congratulations, drbabs!! glad it will be in Book Two

Lobster_001 Reply

Congratulations drbabs!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thanks, deb!

Shamrock-medal Reply

Congrats, drbabs! This looks wonderful. I'm a huge gumbo lover - dark roux is magical to me.

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Thank you, and congratulations on your big fondue win!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Still trying to figure out the photography. Sorry the photos are so messy.

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