How do I make spicy shrimp gumbo and enough to feed at least eight?!

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Cajun Shrimp and Okra Gumbo Recipe

Serves/Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

3 pounds peeled and deveined shrimp
4 pounds fresh okra, cut in 1/2-inch pieces, or 5 (16-ounce) cans
1/4 cup oil
1 tomato, peeled and chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 quarts water
Salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, to taste

How to cook Cajun Shrimp and Okra Gumbo:

In oil, cook okra, tomato and onions until okra is no longer ropey, about 45 - 60 minutes.
Add water, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; simmer for about 30 minutes.
Add shrimp and continue to cook another 10 minutes.
Serve the Cajun Shrimp and Okra Gumbo in soup bowls over cooked rice.

http://www.all-fish-seafood-recipes.com/…

http://www.all-fish-seafood-recipes.com/…

Shrimp, Okra and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon bayou cajun seasoning
5 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice
1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 pound smoked andouille or kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise then sliced 1/4
inch thick
1/2 pound okra, trimmed and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 small can lumped crab meat drained

freshly cooked long-grain rice
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

Prep:
Heat oil in a heavy large Dutch oven over high heat until almost smoking. Add
flour and stir until dark brown and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Immediately add
celery, onions and bell peppers. Cook 5 minutes, stirring and scraping bottom of
pan often.

Mix in bay leaves, salt, oregano and cayenne. Add clam juice, canned tomatoes
and sausage. Boil 15 minutes. Add okra, reduce heat and simmer until okra is
tender, about 15 minutes

Add shrimp to gumbo and simmer until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Mound
rice in soup bowls. Ladle gumbo over. Garnish with tomatoes.

A true Cajun would probably beat me with his/her spoon, but I mean no disrespect by offering up my version. It isn't authentic, but it sure is good! Medium chop one bell pepper, one serrano or other hot pepper, one medium onion, and a stalk of celery. Set aside. In a heavy pot, pour about 1/4 cup bacon grease or other fat of your choice. When it is hot, add a 1/4 cup of flour. Stir constantly until the roux is a nice medium brown. You can do it in 3 to 5 minutes, or 45 minutes. Just depends on your heat. DON't let it burn. When it is a nice brown color, toss in the chopped veggies and sweat them in the rue to coat them. Once coated, add three cups COLD water, not hot, or good chicken broth if you have it. Now here is where it gets easy. Dump a half bag of frozen "Gumbo Mix" and a half bag of frozen sliced okra in and stir. Gumbo is a salt hog, so add at least 1 teaspoon salt. Add one cup regular long grain white rice. Stir or the rice will stick to the bottom of the pan and it's a tough thing to rescue the dish if this happens. Bring to a boil, keep stirring for a minute, turn down to simmer, put a lid on and walk away. Stir every five minutes to make sure rice is doing ok. If you need to add more liquid, do. After about 10 minutes, add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, a tablespoon if file powder and stir well. When rice is cooked, dump your 1 lb peeled and de-veined raw shrimp in and cook another 5 minutes or so. Check for salt and heat level. Good luck, If done properly, you should have a rather thick gumbo that is delicious. PS I dont add the sausage to my gumbos because it overpowers the shrimp, duck or chicken to me. I also forgot the three cloves of fresh chopped garlic! Must have garlic!
EDIT - this will make 8 appetizer sized dishes. Just double everything if you are having it as the main course.

Gumbo is the most beloved Louisiana food and for good reason. This authentic Cajun soup has an extraordinary taste and aroma that will electrify your senses and make you warm and happy.

First you make a roux. A well known proverb and the first and most important step to making an authentic gumbo. Learn how to do it here using our instructions and photo's.

http://www.gumbocooking.com/gumbo-cookin…

Go to allrecipes.com. You can type in a search for any kind of recipe you want, and many different ones will pop up. The great thing about their recipes is that you can change the number of servings, and it will adjust the recipe for you. I love their site!

Have fun.

Here are a bunch of Gumbo recipes that are easy to cook - http://www.gourmet-living.com/category.h…