What is Gumbo zHerbes'?

Gumbo zHerbes' is a soup-like meal made of greens and a roux for a thick, brothy base. Meats like ham hock, beef brisket, and/or sausage may be included, but sometimes it's served without meat for those abstaining during the Lenten season.

Can you eat Gumbo zHerbes' during Lent?

Yes. This green gumbo gets its origin as a meatless gumbo served on Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or anytime during Lent.

Is green gumbo vegetarian?

Made without meat, this gumbo simmered with different kinds of mixed greens serves as a perfect vegetarian meal.

How do you make Gumbo zHerbes'?

Simply make a roux, add the Cajun holy trinity, and broth to simmer with a mixture of greens, and with or without meat for about 1 hour.

Gumbo z'Herbes Made With Greens, A Green Gumbo Recipe • Louisiana Woman Blog

Name: Gumbo z'Herbes Made With Greens, A Green Gumbo Recipe
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Cuisine: Cajun
Ingredients: 1 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil; 1 pound of smoked sausage, sliced; .25 cup extra virgin olive oil; .25 cup all-purpose flour; 1.5 cup chopped onion; 1 cup chopped red and/or green bell pepper; 1 cup chopped celery; 3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced; 8 cups vegetable broth; 20 cups mixed greens (collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, spinach, arugula, kale, beet greens, carrot tops, swiss chard, etc.); 2 cups chopped parsley, loose packed; 2 cups chopped cabbage; .5 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 teaspoons salt; 4 dried bay leaves, optional; chopped green onion for garnish, optional

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 pound of smoked sausage, sliced
.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
.25 cup all-purpose flour
1.5 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped red and/or green bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
8 cups vegetable broth
20 cups mixed greens (collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, spinach, arugula, kale, beet greens, carrot tops, swiss chard, etc.)
2 cups chopped parsley, loose packed
2 cups chopped cabbage
.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons salt
4 dried bay leaves, optional
chopped green onion for garnish, optional

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Instructions

Heat the oil in a large gumbo pot and brown the sausage, stirring often.
Remove the sausage from the pot and place in a medium bowl to set aside.
Pour the oil into the pot for the roux, and heat until hot.
Add the flour to the hot oil and stir often until the roux is the color of dark chocolate.
Stir in the onion, pepper, and celery, and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the garlic and stir for a minute or two.
Pour the broth into the roux mixture and stir until well blended.
Let this come to a boil, then add the greens in small amounts until they are all wilted.
Add the parsley and cabbage, stirring well.
Add bay leaves into the gumbo, or omit them altogether.
Stir the sausage into the gumbo..
Bring the gumbo to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour.
Serve with cooked white rice.

Equipment

large magnalite pot

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Notes

Be sure to stir the roux constantly so it doesn't burn, and promptly add the Cajun holy trinity vegetables when it reaches the desired color. The vegetables will keep the roux from browning any more.
When cooking with greens, rinse them thoroughly, ensuring there isn't any sand or dirt left on them. Biting into grit isn't a pleasant experience.
The sausage can be substituted with smoked ham, ham hocks, beef brisket, tasso, shrimp, Spanish chorizo, or chicken.
Made without meat, this gumbo simmered with different kinds of mixed greens serves as a perfect vegetarian meal.

Author: Louisiana Woman
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Category: Main Dish
Method: Simmer
Cuisine: Cajun
Diet: Low Calorie