Food and Recipes Seafood Savory Crab-And-Shrimp Gumbo Exotica Be the first to rate & review! Marsha Dean Phelts' cookbook pays tribute to a historic Florida community's seafood favorites. By Daisy Brookins Published on January 30, 2023 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Jillian Knox Active Time: 1 hrs 15 mins Total Time: 2 hrs Servings: 8 Ingredients 8 oz. sliced salt pork or thick-cut bacon slices 6 medium-size yellow onions, chopped (about 5 cups) 6 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups) 1 large green bell pepper, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups) 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 Tbsp.) 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce Basic Seasonings (recipe follows) 1 lb. large peeled, deveined raw shrimp 8 oz. fresh or frozen crabmeat (preferably backfin), drained and picked over 8 oz. frozen cut okra, thawed (from 1 [16-oz.] pkg.) 1/4 tsp. cornstarch or all-purpose flour, mixed with about 1 tsp. water or liquid from tomato can Basic Seasonings 1 Tbsp. seafood seasoning 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbsp. hot sauce 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes 2 dried bay leaves Directions Heat a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high. Add salt pork or bacon, and cook until crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes per side; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Crumble and set aside. Do not wipe skillet clean. Add onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic to drippings in Dutch oven; cook over low, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir together reserved salt pork or bacon, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and Basic Seasonings in a large bowl; add to vegetable mixture in Dutch oven, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, about 45 minutes. Stir shrimp, crabmeat, and okra into mixture in Dutch oven; cover and simmer, undisturbed, 15 minutes. Stir in cornstarch mixture or flour mixture until blended. Remove and discard bay leaves. Divide gumbo evenly among 8 bowls, and serve immediately. Basic Seasonings Active Time: 5 min. - Total Time: 5 min. - Makes about 1/4 cup Stir together seafood seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, dried parsley flakes, and dried bay leaves in a small bowl until combined. Adapted with permission from The American Beach Cookbook. University Press of Florida, 2008. Rate it Print