Seafood Gumbo

Serves 8

Ingredients for The Base:

• 2 cups chopped onion
• 3/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped green onion
• 2 tablespooons minced parsley
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ​1 1/2 cups purred tomato
• 1 Polish (kielbasa) sausage, sliced thin
• 2 pounds peeled shrimp
• 1 pound crab meat
• 8 ounces cut okra

Ingredients for The Liquid and Seasonings:

• water - up to 1 quart
• 3 whole bay leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground thyme
• 5 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice

• 1/2 teaspoon mace
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• ​1 teaspoon ground cloves

​Ingredients for The Roux:

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup flour

Instructions:
Prepare and assemble all ingredients for the gumbo. Heat the oil in a heavy 8 quart pot over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until it turns brown in color. This could take up to 30 minutes. Immediately add the onion, green pepper, green onion, parsley and garlic. Continue cooking about 10
minutes longer, stirring frequently. Add the tomato puree, shrimp, crab, sausage, okra and seasonings. Add water to cover the ingredients by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. Serve over rice if preferred.