8chicken tenderloins(or 2 skinless/boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces)
salt and pepperto taste
3stalksceleryfinely diced
1largeonionfinely diced
1largebell pepperfinely diced
2bay leaves
½tspCreole seasoning
3clovesgarlicfinely chopped
1tbsptomato pasteheaping
½lbgreen beanscut into 1" pieces
2cupscherry tomatoesdiced
2cupschicken stock
1tbspflat-leaf parsleychopped
Fragrant Garlic Rice (Recipe below)
Fragrant Garlic Rice
1tbspolive oil
2largegarlicpressed through garlic press
2cupsjasmine rice
1tspsea salt
¼tspcracked black pepper
3cupswater
Instructions
Gumbo-laya
Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil.
Once the oil is hot, add the sliced sausage in, and allow it to caramelize and brown for a few minutes; once well browned, remove the sausage from the pot, and set it aside for a moment
Next, add the chicken pieces into the pot along with a sprinkle or two of salt and pepper, and allow them to brown in the oil/sausage drippings for about 2-3 minutes; remove the chicken pieces from the pot, and set aside for a moment
Add in the diced celery, onion and bell pepper, and caramelize it for about 2-3 minutes in the oil, then add in the bay leaves, the Creole seasoning, the cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and stir to combine
Add in the garlic and stir, and once it becomes aromatic, add in the tomato paste, and cook for about 1 minute to cook out the “raw” tomato flavor
Next, add in the sliced okra, the diced tomatoes with juice, the hot chicken stock, and the browned sausage and chicken, and stir to combine, and allow the stew to simmer gently on low/medium-low, uncovered, for 20 minutes
Now, add in the shrimp (you can season it with a sprinkle of salt/pepper if you wish), and simmer for only 2 minutes more as to not overcook the shrimp
Finish by stirring in the chopped parsley and cilantro, and serve over the Fragrant Garlic Rice, with some additional spice/heat options like hot sauce, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, if desired.
Fragrant Garlic Rice
Place a medium pot over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil; once hot, add in the pressed garlic, and stir to combine; once the garlic becomes fragrant, add in the rice, the salt and the pepper and stir, and allow the rice to “toast” in the garlic oil for about 2 minutes
Next, add in the water, stir, and simmer the rice, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until tender; turn off the heat, and after 5 minutes, fluff with fork and serve.
