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Prep time
20 minutes
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Cook time
55 minutes
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Serves
2-4
Author 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 religion. I wanted a lightened-up version of traditional seafood gumbo, and this is what I came up with. As with most soup, the seasonings can be adjusted according to your taste. (And as you all know by now, I didn't put a bay leaf in because you-know-who hates bay, but bay leaf is great in gumbo, so go for it.) - drbabs —drbabs
Test Kitchen 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 a smoky dark roux and well-chosen cocktail of spices. By design, this recipe could be made year-round from pantry staples, but you can always put a little Mardi Gras in it by adding andouille or tasso. - A&M —The Editors
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Ingredients
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2 cups
cooked white or brown rice, kept warm
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1 pound
medium shrimp, peeled and deveined; shells rinsed and reserved
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2 tablespoons
grapeseed oil
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2 tablespoons
flour
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2
large onions, chopped fine
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2
stalks celery, chopped fine
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1
clove garlic, put through garlic press
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1 cup
chopped tomatoes (fresh is best but since it's winter, I used Pomi chopped tomatoes)
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1/2 teaspoon
dried thyme
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1/2 teaspoon
dried oregano
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1/2 teaspoon
smoked paprika
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1/4 teaspoon
cayenne
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1/2
lemon, juiced
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1 tablespoon
Worcestershire sauce
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2 tablespoons
chopped parsley
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1 pinch
salt and pepper to taste and as described in the recipe
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5 dashes
Tabasco sauce to taste, and to be used as a condiment
Directions
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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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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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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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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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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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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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