New Orleans- Gumbo

Gumbo – New Orleans

As the train pulled up in New Orleans we felt like we had arrived in a different country. The area didn’t feel like America it had more character and more history it was less handmade. We got off the train and arrived at are hostel are hostel was cheap but had so much character it was 3 houses joined together and on the sides of the house you could see the lines were the water had risen to during hurricane Katrina. It was easy to tell this hostel was New Orleans in a nutshell.  There was Mardi gras beads covering the stairs and photos all over the walls and yes my photo is now on the wall.

So before we had even explored the city centre we had a feel for the area just from the hostel. So we headed on the tram into town we got off the tram near bourbon street and we were greeted by are very first voodoo shop. New Orleans has a thing for voodoo and vampires its weird but then again only in New Orleans. We swiftly made are way up the infamous Bourbon street were drinking and partying were a 24 hour occasion and the street smelled of it. We turned up a side street and we were in the French quarter it was amazing you would think you were back in Europe in a nice French town.

We walked the streets for a while listening to the live bands flowing through the streets looking at all the culture and people. Then we found it the famous French market and it was better than imagined. At the start of the French market there is a row of food bars were you sit at the bar and eat typical New Olean’s cuisine. The choice was minimal but affective and of courses I had the gumbo unfortunately I am not a huge fish fan so I had the sausage and chicken Gumbo. I know you’re wondering what Gumbo is well it’s like a British stew it has a stock lots of fresh Vegetables and typically has different types of fish in it. Well I ate mine so quickly it was amazing the flavour of New Olean’s hot sauces and spices excited my senses and took a typical stew and made it exotic.

Of courses we didn’t just have the Gumbo we had to try something else on the menu. So we had the alligator sausage I know what you are thinking horrible but it was amazing the meat was tender and juicy and went very well with the hot sauce.

So after a very successful stay in New Orleans full of hot sauce and music we left for Washington. I can honestly say I have found my new favourite place in the world and hopefully one day I will go back for a lot longer.

Sausage and chicken Gumbo

Ingredients

Serves: 2

• 50ml vegetable oil
• 20g plain flour
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1  green pepper, chopped
• 1 sticks celery, chopped
• 200g smoked sausage,
• 1 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons  Creole blend seasoning to taste
• 200ml chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 chicken breast (150grams)  

Prep: 45 mins | Cook: 40 mins

1

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, whisk in flour. Continue whisking until the roux has cooked to the colour of chocolate milk, 8 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn the roux. If you see black specks in the mixture, start over.

2.

Stir onion, pepper, celery and sausage and chicken into the roux; cook 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook another 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning; blend thoroughly. Pour in the chicken stock and add the bay leaf. Bring to the boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Simmer the mixture 30 minutes  . remove any foam