Sausage and Oyster Gumbo Recipe
If you love oysters and New Orleans cooking like we do, this sausage and oyster gumbo recipe is for you!
It’s full of fresh vegetables, smoky sausage and oysters. The flavors are perfect together; making this one of the best gumbo recipes I’ve ever had.
Do you love Louisiana food? We certainly do. Whether it’s Cajun or Creole; we can’t get enough. I’m talking about recipes like etouffée, crawfish, boudin, jambalaya and gumbo. We live south of New Orleans—Miami—and we can’t seem to find a restaurant that serves good Louisiana cooking.
Our way to solve this deficiency is to cook at home, which usually results in food even better than what we would get in New Orleans. As I’ve mentioned before, we are lucky enough to have access to super-fresh Gulf seafood from Casablanca’s seafood market. This legendary market has boats arriving daily and serves up an astounding array of fresh local seafood right in the heart of downtown Miami.
Unfortunately, the secret is out. Now I have to jockey for a parking space to get my seafood fix and wait forever in lines. Sad me 🙁
To make this heavenly sausage and oyster gumbo recipe, you can use freshly shucked oysters or save yourself the trouble and buy the pre-shucked refrigerated oysters in the seafood section of a good grocery store. Buy some nice Louisiana-style smoked sausage or Andouille and you are good to go—except for file powder. Do you have it? Don’t fret if you don’t. File powder is not necessary for a good gumbo. Even the folks in Louisiana will tell you so. I prefer to add okra in its place. It thickens gumbo just like file would.
The key to making a gumbo is the roux. It sounds like something magical and hard to do when you hear people mention it, but it’s very easy. I have to mention my sister-in-law here because she gifted me an heirloom quality roux spoon. Isn’t it nifty? I never knew they had a “thing” just for this purpose!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did! Check back soon when I’ll be sharing my favorite recipe for Shrimp Etouffée. What’s your favorite Louisiana dish?
Sausage and Oyster Gumbo Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage (Andouille), sliced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or butter
- ½ cup flour
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 7 cups chicken or seafood broth
- 1 pound fresh or frozen okra (sliced)
- 1 can (15 oz.) chopped tomatoes + juice
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt and freshly cracked pepper + more to taste
- 1 pint raw, shucked oysters (20 pounds unshucked) plus liquor
- Tabasco sauce (to taste)
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onion (for serving)
- 3-4 cups cooked white rice (for serving)
Method
In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage well in the 2 tablespoons of oil. Remove sausage from the skillet and set aside.
Using a large heavy pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. When the butter melts and foams, add the flour. Use a wooden spoon to stir the flour into the butter to prevent any lumps. Continue to cook and stir the roux until it is brown and nutty-smelling, about 15 minutes.
Recipe adapted from Shrimp and Oyster Gumbo by Tyler Florence http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/shrimp-and-oyster-gumbo-with-okra-recipe.html
Add the onion, celery, red and green bell pepper, garlic, Cajun seasoning and thyme to the roux and cook for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.
Pour in the chicken stock. Add the okra, tomatoes, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes, checking and stirring occasionally.
Toss the oysters (and oyster liquor) in the pot and cook another 10-15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper and a dash of Tabasco sauce if needed.
To serve: Ladle gumbo in a wide bowl. Top with cooked rice. Sprinkle with green onion or parsley. Don’t forget to place the hot sauce on the table.
Recipe adapter from Shrimp and Oyster Gumbo by Tyler Florence
Uh oh, I don’t eat sausage or oysters, but I bet this would be awesome to serve at a dinner party. I think it would probably end up being a big hit!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted…15 Grilling Recipes You Don’t Want to Miss!
My Hubs would love it if I make this recipe. I need to try it for him. I am wondering if I have to do fresh oysters or do they maybe have canned?
Terry recently posted…How We Stopped Dryer Lint From Blowing All Over
I have never cooked with oysters although I do love Cajun food. Your recipes always encourage me and give me confidence to try something new. Now to find fresh seafood where I live……
alice chase recently posted…Six Weeks ‘Til Summer – Hydration
I can’t remember the last time I had gumbo. Don’t know how I’d feel about oysters in it, but would try it once.
Scott recently posted…Wear Retro. Eat Retro. Watch Retro.
Ive never tried oysters before-too afraid. lol I would think this would be a great way to try it though!
Tess recently posted…No More Sorting #Purex No Sort
I’ve had gumbo before; but nothing like this shrimp and oyster gumbo! Oh wow; it sounds and looks amazing. Definitely something I’d love to give a try!
I have to be honest, I have not had any Louisiana dishes that I can think of. I was raised on a farm in the northern Midwest and we just ate a different kind of food. That is one area of the country that my husband and I have not traveled to. We need to and we need to try the cuisine.
Yum! I’ve never made gumbo before! Always felt it was something better left for the experts! lol I pinned this so that I can try making it sometime soon!!
That looks good, but I am not a fan of oysters.
I love gumbo! This looks like a great recipe for it. I will have to try it out.
I had never heard of gumbo until a few weeks ago when someone mentioned it on the TV and even then it was just by name – so this is the first time I really know what it is! I might just have to make me some as well I think 🙂 x
Oh YUM! My hubby would love this! And I like that spoon!!!
You most certainly are lucky to have access to the freshest. That looks divine!
We do not pass up gumbo at our house. I think my kids love it more than red beans and rice!
You had me right up until you said Oyster, I will have to find something I can use to substitute in their place. I love trying different gumbo’s and this recipe looks like there is a lot of flavor!
Jennifer Williams recently posted…Running 4 Jaxson – April 27, 2014
My friend Aimee loves gumbo. She is from Louisiana. Yours looks so delicious
Veronica recently posted…The Ultimate List of Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
My hubby would totally love this gumbo! I’m not an oyster fan, but can be totally substituted for something else 🙂
Annie recently posted…Gavin DeGraw Concert at Uptown Theatre
Oh I bet this tastes delish. I love me some gumbo
Toni recently posted…How You Can Help Build A Dream #GivingBack
I’m not a huge oyster fan but this sounds delicious. I love gumbo.
Triplezmom recently posted…Reading Worksheet Alternatives
This looks delicious! What a great recipe!
Amanda recently posted…For A Very ‘POP’ular Teacher Free Printable Tag for Teacher Appreciation
I can’t believe I do not own a Roux Spoon!! I make roux for a lot of different recipes!
Erica recently posted…Momâs favorite flower? Shop beautiful volcanic flowers from The Bouqs Co. & show her some #BOUQLOVE
YES! I love Gumbo, it’s the best. My Dad made a recipe for it and I’ve forever been using it since. So good
Melanie recently posted…The Snails are Back
I love gumbo, I will definitely have to give it a try. Thank you for sharing!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted…Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Car #HyundaiDriveSquad
I LOVE sausage gumbo! I’ve never had oysters before, but I’m sure they are worth a try in this tasty dish. Thanks for linking up with Hump Day Happenings!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast recently posted…Spiced Peach Breakfast Bread
This sounds incredible! I love gumbo and crawfish so much. Thanks for sharing on Hump Day Happenings!
Megan Walker recently posted…Jacksonville Becomes a Home