Bubba Gump's Greenbow County Okra Gumbo

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh okra, sliced
• 2 teaspoons butter, melted
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 bunch green onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 quarts water
• 1 (16 ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 lb unpeeled medium-size fresh shrimp
• 1/2 lb fresh crabmeat, drained and flaked
• hot cooked rice
• gumbo file (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cook okra in 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.
• 2 set aside.
• 3 combine remaining butter and flour in a large dutch oven, cook over medium high, stirring constantly until roux is chocolate colored-around 20-25 min (i say have a beer while doing this) stir in green onions, celery and garlic, cook stirring constantly until veg is tender.
• 4 add okra, water and the next 6 ingredients.
• 5 bring to a boil, reduce and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• 6 peel and devein shrimp, add that and crab to okra mixture.
• 7 simmer an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 8 remove and discard bay leaf.
• 9 serve gumbo over rice.
• 10 sprinkle with file if desired.