This recipe is from Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen cookbook. We’ve added shrimp to this, but it’s also good without it. Or you can omit the chicken and use sausage and shrimp.

For a big crowd we double the recipe. One recipe makes about 3- 4 quarts. We enjoy it either with or without the traditional rice.

The most unusual part of this recipe is making the roux. You can purchase roux at some grocery stores or specialty shops. Making it is not difficult, but it is surprising. The first time I made it I was certain I made a mistake and threw it out! The real flavor of gumbo comes from the roux. It is a pungent flavor on its own, but combined with the seasonings and other ingredients it’s divine!

This gumbo has a lot of broth that is not…