Southern · soup

Gumbo

Gumbo reads umami 6.4, richness 5.1 and salinity 4.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Southern soup, about 1 hr 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 7.2 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 1.8 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 0.6 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 3.7 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 5.2 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 4.5 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 6.4 · Richness 5.1 · Salinity 4.6 · Allium 4.0 · Smoke 3.3 · Marine & Briny 2.8 · Warm Spice 2.4 · Herbaceous 2.4 · Heat 1.8 · Sweetness 1.7 · Earthy 1.3 · Bitterness 1.3 · Floral 0.8

What's in it (17)

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 oz andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 lb chicken thighs, boneless
• 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled
• 1 cup okra, sliced
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp file powder
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• salt to taste
• 3 cups cooked white rice

Time & effort: about 1 hr 50 min (55 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 153.4 kcal, 6.7 g protein, 7.2 g fat, 15.6 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Stir flour and oil together over medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes to make a dark chocolate-colored roux.
2. Add the trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, then garlic, and cook until softened.
3. Add stock, sausage, chicken, and okra, and simmer 45 minutes; stir in shrimp at the end until just cooked.
4. Season with file powder, Cajun spices, and salt, and serve over white rice.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo — Cajun/Creole
• Jambalaya — Cajun/Creole
• One-Pot Jambalaya — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
• Shrimp Etouffee — Cajun/Creole · Cajun
• New England Clam Chowder — American

Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.