Healthy Gumbo Recipes | Cooking Light

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Whether you're celebrating Mardi Gras, hosting a party for a sporting event or just feeding a large crowd, everyone loves a good gumbo. We've compiled 12 of our favorite gumbo recipes right here. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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Gourmet Gumbos

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: New Orleans Gumbo

Nothing says New Orleans quite like a good gumbo. Consisting of a strong flavored stock, protein, seasoning vegetables, and a thickener, it's a versatile dish for any occasion. In honor of this Louisiana favorite, we've compiled 12 lighter gumbo recipes to tantalize your taste buds .

The first choice on this list had to be our New Orleans Gumbo recipe. The key to an outstanding Cajun gumbo is a deep, dark roux. To get it just right, use a flat-bottomed wooden spoon to get into all the corners of the pot, and be attentive. Cook, stirring continuously, especially during the last 15 minutes. Reduce the heat as needed if you're concerned the roux is cooking too fast. There's no rescuing a burnt roux—best to toss it and start over.

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Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Gumbo is usually a labor of love, but this quick dish comes together in just 30 minutes. The brilliant accelerator here is that we sauté chicken and veggies in the roux while it cooks and develops the trademark deep, rich color and nutty flavor (instead of browning the roux separately). Drippings from authentic andouille sausage start a strong foundation, adding spicy, garlicky goodness to the dish.

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Smoky Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Smoky Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

The secret to this delicious stew is the stock. Make extra, which you can freeze up to three months, and use it for chowder or risotto. Learn how we made over this recipe.

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Crab and Vegetable Gumbo

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Crab and Vegetable Gumbo

The gumbo-blend vegetables we call for in this recipe contain chopped celery, onion, bell pepper, corn, and okra. If you can't find this particular blend, substitute a mixture of frozen okra and corn.

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Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Thanks to savory spices and a quick-cooking roux, this gumbo cuts back on time (and calories!) and keeps the rich flavor.

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Roasted Pheasant and Oyster Gumbo

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Roasted Pheasant and Oyster Gumbo

Andouille packs a spicy punch. If you prefer a milder option, substitute kielbasa, or use less hot sauce. This recipe halves easily, and you can freeze the cooked pheasant meat for use in soups, stews, or pasta dishes. Filé powder (ground sassafras leaves) adds a mild flavor, similar to eucalyptus, and is often added to gumbo for its thickening properties. If you can't find it at the store, pick it up here.

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Crescent City Gumbo

Photo: Jan Smith

View Recipe: Crescent City Gumbo

Creole gumbos all share one ingredient: okra, which came to America with African slaves (the stew's name stems from ochingombo, a Bantu word for okra).

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Sausage and Chicken Gumbo

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Sausage and Chicken Gumbo

Sausage and Chicken Gumbo is a hearty and filling meal that's great for weeknights. The frozen vegetables speed along the cooking process and you can add additional spices to flavor the meal to your taste.

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Gramercy Crawfish Gumbo

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Gramercy Crawfish Gumbo

In this crawfish gumbo, named for a small town in Louisiana, you brown the flour in the oven to create your roux. This technique provides a deep, nutty flavor without the fat.

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Gulf of Mexico Gumbo

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Gulf of Mexico Gumbo

This gumbo dish features crawfish, shrimp, and red snapper to create a hearty and protein-rich dinner option.

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Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

The enamel-coated cast iron of a Dutch oven maintains an even heat at any temperature, so foods won't suddenly scorch or boil over. Great for the low and slow simmer of this flavorful gumbo.

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Turkey and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Turkey and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

This gumbo is a great use for leftover roasted turkey, though cooked chicken will also work. We skip the long-stirred roux here in favor of filé powder, a thickener made from the sassafras plant; look for it on the spice aisle. For the best results, stir in the filé powder off the heat.

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12 of Our Favorite Healthy Gumbo Recipes

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Gourmet Gumbos

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Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

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Smoky Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

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Crab and Vegetable Gumbo

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Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

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Roasted Pheasant and Oyster Gumbo

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Crescent City Gumbo

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Sausage and Chicken Gumbo

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Gramercy Crawfish Gumbo

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Gulf of Mexico Gumbo

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Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

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Turkey and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

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