One of our favorite things to cook in cast iron is cornbread. This time we decided to try it out over the fire to go with an easy-speedy version of Chicken Gumbo. Now Gumbo Purists may scoff, but for a fast, flavorful and we think quite tasty stew cooked over a fire, this does the trick. The spice heats up your body real fast, making this great for a chilly night.

Chicken & Okra Gumbo

Tools:

12″ Dutch Oven

cutting board or cardboard

stirring spoon

measuring cup

medium heat fire

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2-4 tablespoons of secret Gumbo spice, depending on how spicy you want it

2 red bell peppers, chopped [tip: chop these, onions and garlic at home so it’s ready to go]

1 medium onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 teaspoon dried oregano

salt + pepper

 4cups water or chicken broth

1 package (10 ounces) frozen, cut okra

1 package of smoked andouille sausage (precooked), chopped into half-rounds

1 rotisserie chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), meat shredded – remove skin and bones [do this at home too]

Do:

Place the Dutch Oven in the fire, where it’s over decent heat but not ragingly hot. Heat up the oil then add the flour and a few pinches of the Gumbo Spice to make your roux, and keep stirring it constantly until golden (this happens quickly over the heat, about a minute or two). Add in the red peppers, onion, garlic and oregano, season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Add 4 cups of water or chicken broth to the mix. Add the Okra in. At this point if you have vegans or vegetarians with you, let this cook for a bit (add more spice, salt and pepper to flavor), and then let them eat. Then add in the sausage, and let that cook for about 10 minutes to let the flavor set in. Lastly, add in the shredded chicken. Once it’s fully warm, dig in and serve with a piece of fresh cornbread (see below for recipe).

Click below for full cornbread recipe and more photos!