Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

There's nothing quite like good gumbo.  From the January 2012 Bon Appetit via Epicurious.


Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Bon Appétit | January 2012
by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

For authentic gumbo, add filé, a Creole herb found in better markets.
Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings
Active Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more 
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 teaspoon paprika 
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs 
• 1/2 cup (or more) vegetable oil 
• 1 pound andouille or other spicy smoked sausage, cut into 1/2" rounds 
• 1 cup all-purpose flour 
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped 
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced (white and pale parts separated from dark)
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped 
• 2 green bell peppers, finely chopped 
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 
• 8 cups low-salt chicken broth 
• 2 bay leaves 
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 
• 2 cups 1/2"-thick slices fresh (or frozen, thawed) okra, divided 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (preferably Crystal) 
• 1 teaspoon filé powder plus more (optional) 
• Steamed rice 

Preparation
Combine 1 tablespoon salt and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl; sprinkle all over chicken. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Working in batches, sear chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add sausage to pot; cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to plate with chicken.

Strain drippings from pot through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-cup heatproof measuring cup; reserve 1 cup drippings, adding more oil if needed to measure 1 cup. Wipe pot clean; return drippings to pot.

Heat drippings over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Whisk constantly until roux is the color of milk chocolate, 15–20 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in white and pale-green parts of scallions and next 3 ingredients. Cook, stirring often, until soft, about 10 minutes.

Slowly whisk in broth. Add bay leaves, thyme, and reserved chicken and sausage. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer gently, skimming fat from surface and stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Stir in 1 cup okra, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. Simmer until chicken is very tender and flavors meld, about 45 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 cup okra; simmer until okra is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool slightly; chill uncovered until cold. Cover and keep chilled. Rewarm gently before continuing. Add 1 teaspoon filé powder, if using.

Serve gumbo over rice. Garnish with dark-green parts of scallions. Sprinkle with more filé powder, if desired.