I have several meals that I like to cook this way but hands down my favorite is Chicken Sausage Gumbo! I have it cooking now and it smells so good I can hardly wait. I promised the recipe a while back and here it is. I think you will really enjoy it. You can change around the sausage to your liking. We often use Oktoberfest sausage. The taste goes well with everything else. Really any Smokey or Spicy sausage will do, andouille or kielbasa are recommended.
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 pound smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa cut crosswise 1/2-inch thick pieces
4 large chicken breasts, skin removed cut into 1 inch-4 cm pieces(can use legs)
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 lb Okra cut crosswise thick slices ( if you can't find fresh, frozen works great!)
1 large yellow onion chopped
3 stalks chopped celery
1 red or green bell peppers seeded and chopped
1 salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 cups chicken broth
1 can Diced plum tomatoes (14 1/2 oz or 500ml)
White Rice, for serving
Cook the Chicken
In a large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned about 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker, then add sausages. Scatter the Okra, bell pepper, celery and onion on top.
Make the Roux
Return the frying pan medium-high heat and add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle the flour into the frying pan and cook, stirring slowly and constantly for about 4 minutes, to make a golden brown roux.
Stirring, slowly add the chicken stock and tomatoes with their juice , and cook, stirring, until well combined. Bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Season with the 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the cayenne pepper and then pour over the vegetables, chicken and sausage in the slow cooker.
Cook the Gumbo
Cover and cook on the high heat setting for 4 hours or the low setting for 8 hours. Season to taste with salt and cayenne.
Serve with fresh bread or buns.
Optional- Spoon rice into the bottom of deep bowls or large cups and ladle the gumbo on top.
I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. It is a great meal to put on in the morning and when you come home it is cooked and ready to go!
