Seafood Okra Gumbo

Ingredients:

1 qt. okra, cut into   1/2 inch pieces            

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tbls. Oil            

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

2 qts. water            

1  16 oz. can stewed tomatoes

2-3 Ibs. shrimp            

2 bay leaves

2/3 cup oil            

2 tbls. Worcestershire

1/2 cup flour            

2 small boiled crabs

2 medium onions, chopped            

Salt to taste

1 bell pepper, chopped            '

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2 ribs celery, chopped            

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Instructions:

Peel and devein shrimp. Set aside in refrigerator. Boil shrimp shells in 2 qts. water for several hours to make a stock. Set aside. In a heavy skillet, heat 2 tbls. oil and saute the okra until all ropiness is gone, about 1/2 hour. Set aside. In a large (6-8 qt.) heavy Dutch oven make a dark brown roux with the oil and flour. Add onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic and parsley and saute until tender. Add tomatoes and cook 15 minutes. Add sauteed okra, shrimp stock, crabs (broken into quarters), bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and cayenne. Bring to a slow boil and simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add salt to taste. Add the peeled shrimp and continue cooking until shrimp are done. Serve over steamed rice. This dish is best if cooked a day in advance and refrigerated overnight.

From their take home menu: Gumbo Shop , 630 Saint Peter Street, New Orleans, LA

“Every one can cook. If you try. If you put a little love into it.” Chef Leah Case