Ingredients
into 1/4-inch slices
1 cup chopped onion
1 pound hot smoked sausage, cut
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/2 teaspoon dried whole thyme
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 to 1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
2 quarts hot water
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 chicken breast halves, skinned
Gumbo filé (optional)
Hot cooked rice
Brown sausage in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Remove to paper towels, leaving drippings in Dutch oven. Brown chicken in drippings; remove to paper towels, reserving drippings.
Measure drippings, adding enough oil to measure 1/2 cup. Heat in Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add flour to hot oil; cook, stirring constantly, until roux is the color of chocolate (about 30 minutes).
Add onion, bell pepper and celery; cook until vegetables are tender, stirring often. Gradually stir in water; bring to a boil. Return chicken breasts to Dutch oven; add garlic and next 5 ingredients. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1 hour.
Remove chicken; let cool. Return sausage to Dutch oven; cook gumbo, uncovered, 30 minutes. Stir in scallions; cook, uncovered, an additional 30 minutes. Add salt, if desired. Bone chicken breasts and cut into strips. Add to gumbo and cook until thoroughly heated. Remove bay leaves.
Serve gumbo over rice. Sprinkle with gumbo file, if desired.
Serve gumbo over rice. Sprinkle with gumbo file, if desired.