Now, I ask you, what is the most amazing part of the above story?
1. We were served a hot meal on a short flight
2. I was young and chose to eat gumbo
Hmm, I believe it is a toss-up.
You see, I was a pretty picky eater as a child, but for some reason, perhaps being lured by the exotic idea of flying (a rarity as a child, we drove everywhere!) I did the daring and ordered the gumbo.
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for gumbo and this week in Columbus, it is perfect gumbo weather. My version uses an oven to toast the flour (a key component in any gumbo), rather than frying it in oil. The flavors are rich and hearty, but this dish is full of nutrition.
Lightened Gumbo
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces light chorizo or andouille sausage, diced
1 - 28 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 quart chicken broth
15 okra pods, ends cut off, and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup brown rice
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a oven safe dish, sprinkle the flour and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in a large stock pot over medium high heat, heat the oil. Add the carrot, celery and onion, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 1 minute. Add the sausage and cook 4-5 minutes, or until it browns slightly. Reduce the heat to medium low, and once the flour is ready, add the flour and stir well.
Once the flour is fully incorporated, add the tomatoes and chicken broth. Increase the heat to medium high, and stir well, to ensure no lumps form. Add the okra, pepper, thyme and oregano. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the brown rice and simmer for 35-40 minutes. *Alternatively, you can do the above steps in the morning, add the brown rice and cook on low for 8-10 hours in a slow cooker, 4-6 hours on high.*
Serve with crusty bread and hot sauce, if desired.
Serves 4-6
Feel free to alter the proteins in this dish to your heart's content: add chicken, shrimp or use only vegetables. Alter away!
SPC
Sweet Peas and Pumpkins
ReplyDeleteLightened Gumbo Post
Hi SPC,
I love your recipe for the Lightened Gumbo. Great idea switching the fried flour with oven baked flour. Your blog for healthier recipes that kids will enjoy is a great idea! It is always hard to get kids to try healthier food, especially when they know that it is healthy. Have you ever tried cooking with your 2 boys? Kids that cook are more aware of the portions they are eating and the vitamins and nutrients in their food.
Cooking with your kids is a great opportunity to spend more time with them. That is why I work for Healthy Monday campaigns, which just launched a new program. The Kids Cook Monday encourages families to cook and eat together at the start of each week. Research has shown that children that eat together with their families are less likely to become obese and perform better at school. Please feel welcome to explore our website for more benefits http://healthymonday.org/the-kids-cook-monday/. We are looking for blogs to take on the challenge of starting each week with family dinners and posting their experiences. If you are interested please e-mail me at TheKidsCookMonday@gmail.com.
- Abby