Seafood Gumbo

• 6 tablespoons oil, divided (3 tablespoons, 2 tablespoons)
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 -3 onion, chopped (I usually use 2)
• 1 large bell pepper, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 12 lbs okra, sliced
• 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
• salt, to taste
• pepper
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped or 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons dry beef bouillon granules
• 12 teaspoon cumin
• 12 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 lbs seafood, shrimp, crab, oysters (I actually use more than this)
• cooked white rice
• gumbo file powder (add to taste at table)
• Tabasco sauce (add to taste at table)

1. "First you make a roux."
2. In a heavy pot, heat the 4 tablespoons of oil and flour over medium heat.
3. Stir constantly until the roux is the color of a copper penny (a medium roux).
4. Do not allow to smoke or you get to start over!
5. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic.
6. Saute until soft.
7. Add the okra, the 2 tablespoons reserved oil, vinegar, parsley, cayenne, cumin, and bay leaf.
8. Add the salt and pepper.
9. Reduce heat and cook until okra is almost tender.
10. Stir several times carefully.
11. The mixture will get rather sticky and gummy.
12. This is okay.
13. After you add the other ingredients, the stickiness will help thicken the gumbo and won't be a gooey problem.
14. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, and the beef bouillon.
15. Cook for 30 minutes.
16. Add the seafood and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes.
17. If using oysters, don't add for another 10 minutes.
18. Serve at once over white rice.
19. If using the file powder and/or Tabasco, add at the table for each individual's taste.

oil, allpurpose, onion, bell pepper, stalks celery, garlic, parsley, okra, wine vinegar, salt, pepper, chicken broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, cayenne, bay leaf, seafood, white rice, gumbo file, tabasco sauce

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/seafood-gumbo-348559 (may not work)