Here’s a flavorful and hearty Green Gumbo — a vibrant twist on traditional gumbo featuring plenty of greens, tender chicken, sausage, and aromatic spices.
🥣 Green Gumbo
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken thighs, boneless and diced
- 1 lb (450 g) smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1–2 cups chopped green vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens, or a mix)
- 2 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- 2–3 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Cooked rice, for serving
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Brown the Meats
- Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add chicken and sausage; cook until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté the Vegetables
- In the same pot, sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery until softened (5–7 minutes).
- Add garlic and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
3️⃣ Make the Gumbo Base
- If using flour for thickening, sprinkle over vegetables and cook 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually stir in chicken broth until smooth.
- Add Cajun seasoning, thyme, pepper, and return chicken and sausage to the pot.
4️⃣ Add Greens
- Stir in chopped greens and simmer 10–15 minutes until tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and additional Cajun spices if desired.
5️⃣ Serve
- Serve hot over cooked rice.
- Garnish with chopped green onions.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Extra spice: Add hot sauce or cayenne pepper for a spicier gumbo.
- Seafood twist: Substitute or add shrimp or crab for a seafood version.
- Vegetarian option: Skip meats, use vegetable broth, and add more greens, okra, and mushrooms.
- Thickening: Use a traditional dark roux (flour + oil browned) for richer flavor.
- Make ahead: Gumbo flavors deepen when refrigerated overnight. Reheat gently.
If you like, I can provide a restaurant-style Green Gumbo recipe with tender chicken, smoky sausage, perfectly cooked greens, and a rich, flavorful broth that’s hearty and authentic Creole-style.
