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Heaven on Seven Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

At the Heaven on Seven in Wrigleyville the boisterous bayou atmosphere abounds at the popular New Orleans-themed eatery. Jimmy Bannos, one of Chicago's hottest Cajun chefs, shares one of his favorite Creole recipes, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.
Total Time4 hours
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Gumbo

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • teaspoons Angel Dust Cajun Seasoning recipe below
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound andouille cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • ¾ cup thinly sliced green onion white and green parts
  • ½ cup diced red onion
  • 2 cups green bell pepper seeded and diced
  • cups diced celery
  • 1 tablespoon seeded minced jalapeno
  • 1 tablespoon Roasted-Garlic Puree recipe below
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • 6⅓ cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup Dark Roux recipe below
  • ¼ teaspoon file powder see note
  • White rice

Angel Dust Cajun Seasoning

  • 3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
  • tablespoons Spanish paprika
  • 5 teaspoons salt
  • teaspoons dried thyme leaves
  • teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • teaspoon garlic powder
  • teaspoon onion powder

Roasted-Garlic Puree

  • 1 cup peeled garlic cloves
  • 1 cup extra virgin or regular olive oil

Dark Roux

  • 2 cups canola oil
  • cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

Gumbo

  • Toss the chicken and 4 teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning together in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  • In a large (7-quart) heavy Dutch oven, preferable enameled cast iron, heat the oil over high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the andouille and brown for 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Add the onions and cook an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in the bell pepper, celery, jalapeno, and garlic puree, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the basil, oregano, ground black and white peppers, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning; cook for 2 minutes more.
  • Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in the roux a little at a time and stir continuously for 5 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the file powder. Do not let the mixture boil once you have added the file powder. Remove the bay leaf.
  • Serve with cooked white rice.
  • Note: Makes about 1⁄2 gallon.
  • Note: File powder is the ground, dried leaves of the sassafras tree and imparts an unusual but pleasing flavor. It should be stirred into a dish at the end of cooking or sprinkled on at the table. Boiling the file makes it tough and stringy.
  • Note: To reheat refrigerated gumbo, thin with stock or water and reheat gently.

Gumbo (Merlin's Reduced Fat Version)

  • Note: Prepare Gumbo as directed above but make the following substitutions. You will not notice a difference in taste!
  • In place of the andouille, use a firm reduced fat smoked sausage such as Hillshire Farms Turkey Smoked Sausage.
  • In place of the oil-based roux, use fat free roux—see the alternate roux directions below.
  • In place of the roasted garlic puree, use commercially available roasted minced garlic packed in water.

Angel Dust Cajun Seasoning

  • Combine all ingredient in a small bowl until thoroughly mixed.
  • Note: Makes 1⁄2 cup.
  • Note: Store in an airtight container. The spice mix keeps its best flavor for about two months.
  • Note: Angel Dust Cajun Seasoning is also available from a Heaven on Seven restaurant or from Heaven on Seven's website, http://www.heavenonseven.com/.

Roasted-Garlic Puree

  • Preheat the oven to 300 ℉.
  • Place the garlic in a small ovenproof container and pour in the oil. Use additional oil if needed to completely immerse all the garlic cloves. Cover the container with aluminum foil and roast for 1 hour, until garlic is soft and light golden brown.
  • Strain the garlic and place in a blender along with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Puree to a smooth consistency, adding a small amount of oil if necessary.
  • Pour into a container and cover the top of the puree with a thin layer of the oil. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
  • Note: Makes about 1 cup.
  • Note: Reserve the remaining garlic-infused oil in another container and refrigerate up to one month.

Dark Roux

  • Heat oil in a 4-quart dutch oven over high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes.
  • Carefully whisk in the flour a little at a time until all the flour is incorporated. (The mixture will foam up as you add the flour, so add a small amount at a time.) Reduce the heat to medium and stir continuously, preferably with a flat-edged wooded spoon, for 22 to 25 minutes, until the roux is a dark brown.
  • To prevent the roux from cooking any further, carefully pour it into a heat-proof bowl and cool for 45 minutes.
  • Drain of any oil that separates from the roux.
  • Note: Makes 2 cups
  • Note: Store the roux in a covered container and refrigerate.

Dark Roux (Merlin's Fat Free Version)

  • Forget the oil—you don't need any!
  • Preheat oven to 400 ℉.
  • Pour several cups of all-purpose flour in an ungreased heavy baking pan and place in oven.
  • Stir every 10 to 15 minutes. After each stirring, test for doneness by removing a small spoonful of flour to a separate small bowl and mixing in several drops of water to form a paste. The roux flour is done when it turns a dark brown when moistened and has a rich roasted "nutty" smell (approximately 75 minutes).
  • Sift roux flour to remove any lumps.
  • Note: Store the dry roux flour in a tightly covered container in a cool place.
  • Note: To use the dry roux flour in a recipe: substitute the same amount of roux flour as the recipe calls for regular oil-based roux. HOWEVER, combine the flour with an equal amount of cold water just before whisking it into the hot liquid. (The flour and water mixture will form a thick paste.) For example, in place of 1 cup oil-based roux, substitute 1 cup roux flour combined with 1 cup water.

Notes

From Cajun chef Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven restaurant (with alternate reduced fat directions by Merlin Mathesius).