Kiki & Bug

Alright, y’all. Who says you can’t make a comfort food like gumbo made healthy without sacrificing any flavor? I sure as hell don’t. This recipe will give you all the feels of a hearty Cajun dish without all the calories. I remember the first time I ever tasted my first bite of gumbo. I was in New Orleans for my grandfather’s 85th birthday and he took me to try some of his favorite dishes, one of which was, gumbo. I was immediately in love. Eating that gumbo in New Orleans imprinted a beautiful memory with my Papa so now every time I make it, I think of him. I can’t wait for y’all to try this. So let’s get cooking!

“Hey, good lookin’. What’s cookin’?

Ingredients:

• 3 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 link of chicken sausage (I typically use Hillshire Farms Chicken & Garlic Sausage), sliced
• 1 link of Andouille sausage, sliced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 roma tomatoes, cubed
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups of low sodium chicken broth, 1 cup of water
• Creole Seasoning, to taste (I use Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning)

Directions:

1. Heat 2 Tbsp. of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until fragrant. Then add the green bell pepper and celery and saute until vegetables soften. (5-7 minutes)
2. After the vegetables have cooked down a bit, add the parsley, cubed chicken breasts, and let that cook over medium heat until you start to see the chicken turn white (it doesn’t need to be cooked through all the way yet because it will continue to cook in the broth later).
3. Add Creole seasoning, a dash of salt and pepper, to taste. Add 2 Tbsp. of flour creating a roux until all the vegetables and chicken stick together.
4. Slowly add in the 2 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of water.
5. Add in the tomatoes, sausage, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Serve with white rice on top and chopped parsley. For a healthier option, you can serve without rice or with brown rice.

Till next time, y’all! Enjoy!

-Kristen Jean