The Origins of Bayou Gumbo

Posted by writer on October 24, 2010 under Guacamole | Be the First to Comment

The state of Louisiana is famed for providing one of the best soups known to man – Gumbo. People in and out of the country have been exposed to its rich taste, but very few really know where it came from and how it came about.

 

Gumbo is considered as Louisiana’s largest contribution to American cuisine. A melting pot of cultures, it emerged in the 18^th century when the French introduced the bouillabaisse, making it the basis for what was to become the finest stew in the state. The people of Louisiana combined it with the vegetable “okra” whenever they cooked the dish, and it was given the name gumbo because this was the African word for the said vegetable. The other ingredients used in making the dish are the “holy trinity” of vegetables and was brought by the Spaniards – bell pepper, celery and onions – as well as filé powder. To complete the meal, gumbo was also blended with poultry, shellfish or smoked pork.

 

There are those who still do not appreciate the beginning of gumbo, but the native Louisianans who settled near bayous and rivers back in the day would give evidence of having tested the best gumbo. In fact, the original recipe for bayou gumbo is hard to find in the contemporary times. Nowadays, gumbo is split into two types: those that use filé powder as thickeners and those that make use of okra to thicken their stews. Others also utilize Cajun and Creole styles of cooking; Cajun-style gumbo makes use of a darker roux and does not include tomatoes, while Creole-style gumbo uses tomatoes but roux that is lighter.

 

If you want to try the best gumbo Louisiana has to offer but are unsure of where to go, the Louisiana Gumbo Company can bring the meal right to your doorstep. Its owners, Dan Melton and internationally-acclaimed chef Tim Creehan have united and perfected their secret gumbo recipe, a recipe inherited from Melton’s forefathers more than 80 years ago. With roots from authentic bayou gumbo, their gumbo is surely the top selection from the manufactured recipes out there. Even if they have a delivery service, the Louisiana Gumbo Company assures that each serving of their gumbo is prepared only with the freshest ingredients and ensures great quality. Compared to packaged and frozen gumbo sold in popular restaurants and food chains, the dishes prepared by the company tastes a whole lot better as it is made one small serving at a time, to maintain its freshness and quality. Best of all, you don’t have to waste energy looking for restaurants to eat in, because the food comes to you! So if you want to try the superior taste of bayou gumbo, visit Louisiana Gumbo Company’s site and order one today.