Five Things You Need For Amazing Gumbo

Fall is here and that means gumbo season is too. It’s time to make sure you have a few things on hand in the kitchen to make sure your gumbo is amazing.

While many homes in Louisiana have all these things in their kitchen, if you’re not regularly making gumbo, it’s likely not in your kitchen. If you want to make it regularly, I recommend a few (if not all) these things.

1. A Good Stock Pot

I’m a huge fan of the old style Magnalite pots that are no longer made. I had a glimmer of hope last year when I saw a box set on the Walmart website. A good stock pot is not just a must for making gumbo, but has many uses for any amateur chef. Also, a new company called Cajun Classic is making pots and pans similar to the Magnalite ones. They even have a cast iron dutch oven in purple and gold. And of course, they have a heavy duty stock pot.

2. Roux Spoon

Roux spoons have a straight and slanted end, which helps stir flour and oil together for making roux. The design basically allows for the stuff at the bottom stir up better with the rest of the ingredients in the pot or pan. It can also be used for other things like making fudge, browning meat, and sautéing vegetables.

3. Roux or File

Three years ago, I wrote a post about the difference between roux and filé and the importance each plays in making great gumbo. While some see instant roux is cheating, people who were raised on gumbo use it just to save some time. Savoies offers excellent dry roux options that just require the addition of water or stock as well as a liquid roux. Louisiana Gumbo Base is an excellent file choice.

4. Rice and Rice Cooker

Rice is a staple in a lot of Cajun and Creole dishes. While there are many ways to make rice like in the microwave, a rice cooker actually is fairly inexpensive and is easy to use. Typically, white long grain rice is the norm. While the design of traditional brands used by Louisiana natives hasn’t changed much since they were introduced by a Japanese salesman in the 1960s.

5. Gumbo Bowls

Gumbo bowls are just something fun to have. They tend to make eating gumbo a more fancy occasion. They are the perfect size in comparison to regular soup bowls and even regular bowls. The design is also conducive to keep the temperature perfect while you eat. We have two sets in my house and for some weird reason, having them is like a status symbol.