Gluten-free Crock- Pot Gumbo

I finally got to visit the bayou with a quick trip down to New Orleans in December. When I say quick I mean I only had to take off one day of work and was back here in the Carolinas to work the next. I use the word “work” very loosely as I was managing some brief and easy tasks with a beating headache and sunshades on from my night of partying. It was my first time in the city known for its Creole food and Bounce music. Being there for that short period of time forced me to pack a load of activities and sightseeing in with little time. I picked up some jambalaya, at the famous Mothers’ Restaurant, had some Pork Belly at Mr. Bs’, checked out the resting place for the Voodoo Queen, and drank everything in spirits except for the infamous Fireball on Bourbon Street.  

You know how you get to eat a banging cookie but there’s no more? Or that last piece of fried chicken that they left you? You want more but that’s it.  Well that’s how that trip was, I feel like I want so much more of what New Orleans has to offer. The locals were some of the most genuinely friendly people that I’ve encountered and that’s saying a lot considering I live in the Carolinas. My Uber driver was a good friend of Cash Moneys’ Hot Boys and described who he was in the video. Now me being the Hot Girl that I am majorly fan-girled  when I knew exactly who he was and recognized him from the videos. We went through the list and proceeded to tell me how everyone was doing including who was out and still locked up. I was felling like a little groupie after a while and changed the subject to best food spots. There were tons, but my main goal was to reach the spot with the best gumbo. Mothers was the place to get some of the best Gumbo, according to my N.O. native Uber driver. Because I knew the multiple drinks and probably allergy ridden food I had already ingested I opted against the Gumbo and instead bought the hubs back some Jambalaya from Mothers’ which he reported to be amazing. And while he enjoyed his Jambalaya I decided to make the best and allergy free Gumbo I could enjoy right at home.

Growing up my mother would make the best Gumbo, but as a base she would use flour as a thickener. Because I don’t do flour I used pounded yam instead. I also omitted the imitation crab meat she used not because I’m bougie { even when the Migos make it sound cool I’m just not} but because most of what I found had tons of additives that were non-pronounceable and therefore scary. I did attempt to use REAL crab meat in my development of this recipe but I found it to add little benefit to the overall flavor. This recipe is easy and fuss free once all your chopping is done. You simply put all ingredients in the crockpot and let it do it’s thing. The shrimp should be added at the end to prevent over cooking. Rice is optional, but I chose to eat it with the protein rich Quinoa instead.

I’m participating in a Black History Month Potluck with food bloggers who are in every way that is important to me my peers. I love and have enjoyed many of these same bloggers and strongly advise you to go check them out! I remember when I started blogging and would Google search for “black food bloggers”. The list was short shall I say. It seems that list gets longer every month and I’m loving it. I love seeing us with unique and traditional foods. Cultural and personal. Watching how our diverse and similar experiences shape and influence the foods we share. Black food across the diaspora is it’s own beating heart. So unique, so personal, so soulful, so American.

 Black History Month Potluck Bloggers

Meiko and Dish | Crispy Fried Chicken with Pepper Jelly Molasses

Whisk it Real Gud | Trinidad Oxtail Pelau

Raised on Ramen | Caramelized Plantain Tacos with Pecan-Honey Butter

Dash of Jazz | Aunt Georgia’s Peach Cobbler

Foodie in New York | Twice Baked Yams

The Seasoning Bottle | Jamaican Sorrel/ Bissap

Chef Kenneth | Smothered Okra with Shrimp

Savory Spicerack | Cajun Panko Crusted Shrimp Po Boys

Chocolate for Basil | Groundnut Stew (Peanut Stew)

Simply LaKita | Homemade Banana Pudding

My Forking Life | Callaloo and Saltfish

Gucci Belly| Swamp Water

Kaluhi’s Kitchen | Ukwaju (Tamarind) Marinated Spicy Chicken Thighs

Sweet Savant | Coffee Rubbed Lamb Ribs

Salty Sweet Life | Southern Greens Shakshuka

Eat. Drink. Frolic | Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I Heart Recipes | Dirty Rice

Jehan Can Cook | Mango Turmeric Smoothies

Margarita’s On The Rocks | Lemon Pepper Fish Tacos with Collard Green Slaw

The Kitchenista Diaries | Coconut Milk Braised Collards

My Life Runs On Food | Orange Chocolate Smoothie

Butter Be Ready | Skillet Cornbread

Domestic Dee | Shrimp Creole

D.M.R . Fine Foods | Curry Chicken Pot Pie

The Inner Gourmet | Lamb Fried Rice

Marisa Moore Nutrition | Hoppin’ John Patties with Tomato Salsa

The Hungry Hutch | Blood Orange Cornmeal Cake