Mardi Gras kicks off
this Tuesday!
This week's Make it Tonight recipe is one I love to make at the end of the week to utilize all the leftover bits of vegetables I have. It is also a perfect cozy dish for Mardi Gras!
Before I get to the recipe, if you're wondering...
The Difference Between Gumbo and Jambalaya:
Gumbo and jambalaya both feature the "holy trinity" (onions, bell peppers, celery) and rice, but differ primarily in texture and preparation: gumbo is a thick, soup-like stew served over rice, while jambalaya is a one-pot rice dish where rice is cooked in the broth. Gumbo relies on a dark roux or okra for thickness, whereas jambalaya is generally a drier, more consolidated dish.
ANY Vegetable Gumbo
(a.k.a. Kitchen Sink Vegan Gumbo)
What you'll need:
1/2 small onion (any), dice
1 celery stalk, small dice
1/4 to 1/2 bell pepper, seed and dice
2 garlic cloves, mince
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup okra (optional)
2-3 cup vegetable broth
1/2 can (about 7-oz) diced tomatoes
2-4 cups chopped vegetables (any, see note)
1/2 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
OPTIONAL:
1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Liquid smoke or smoked paprika
Louisiana hot sauce or cayenne, to taste
1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 cup cooked kidney beans, black eyed peas, lentils*
1 cup cooked brown rice, quinoa, or other grain
DIRECTIONS:
Pour 1/2-cup broth into a large pot.
Cook onions, peppers, and celery until onions are translucent.
Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more.
Turn off heat.
Stir in flour to coat well.
Stir in 2-cups broth gradually, until the broth is smooth.
Add tomatoes, vegetables, and spices/seasonings.
Cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and summer until vegetables are tender, about 5-10 minutes
Thin with broth if desired.
Add beans and serve over rice.
Note: I typically use carrots, green beans, cauliflower, mushrooms, or more onion/celery/bell pepper. If using greens, add at the end.
To use red lentils, add 1/4-cup plus another 1/2 cup broth and cook 5-7 minutes. Add vegetables and cook another 7-10 minutes.
calories 236 — fat 1.3g — carbs 50.4g — fiber 6.6g — sugars 8.9g — protein 7.1g — serves 2
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