Go for the Gumbo
Reader's Digest US|September 2024
The soulful stew synonymous with Louisiana is delicious anywhere you eat it
Emily Tyra
Go for the Gumbo

A RGUABLY THE MOST classic New Orleans dish, gumbo is the chicken, sausage and/or seafood stew steeped in regional pride and family nostalgia. It's also a complex in intersection of three cultures: West African, Native American and European. The word gumbo comes from the West African ki ngombo, which means "okra," a classic gumbo ingredient that lends a comforting texture and deep, grassy notes. Choctaw Indians introduced filé powder (ground sassafras leaves), originally used to add body to the broth, now favored as a condiment at the table. The French contribution is roux-a mixture of browned fat and flour that thickens and flavors the dish.

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