Granny's Seafood Gumbo
4 sm blue crabs cooked
1/8 cup clarified butter
6 oz onion finely sliced
1 oz celery finely sliced
1 x green pepper finely chopped
3 med tomatoes blanched, skinned,
seeds removed, cut into quarters
2 x garlic cloves smashed
4 cup fish stock
1 tsp tomato paste
2 x bay leaves
1 lb oysters
8 oz tiny shrimp cooked
1 can okra - (12 oz) okra pieces halved
1 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
1 tsp file powder
1/8 cup cold water
Method :
Remove legs from crab and smash with back of knife. Remove claws and break in 3
pieces. Remove meat from body and head.
Heat 1/8 cup clarified butter in large saucepan on high heat. Add crab parts and
meat, then add onion, celery and green pepper. Stir in tomatoes and garlic. Mix
fish stock with tomato paste and add to crab saute. Bring to boil and add bay
leaves. Simmer gently, stirring and skimming top frequently, for 8 minutes. Stir
in oysters and their juices, then add shrimp and okra. Season with pepper.
In small bowl, blend file and cold water. Add to soup and stir briskly. On
medium-low heat, cook soup for 1 hour; do not let soup boil. Serve piping hot.
This recipe yields 6 servings.
Comments: Based upon a number of gumbos served in New Orleans.
claque: a group of fawning admirers