Mobile Bay Seafood Gumbo

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup clarified butter
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 pound fresh okra, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 3/4 cups diced tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay)
• 2 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound cooked crabmeat
• 1 pound shucked oysters

Directions

Melt the clarified butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until a pinch of flour sprinkled into the oil will just begin to bubble. Whisk in the flour to form a thick paste the consistency of cake frosting. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the flour turns the color of melted chocolate, about 45 minutes. Slowly whisk in the water and bring to a simmer. Whisk until no lumps of roux remain; set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Stir in the onion, okra, and green bell pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and begun to brown, about 30 minutes.

Stir the tomato paste into the okra mixture until no lumps of tomato paste remain. Add the tomatoes, garlic, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, seafood seasoning, and roux-thickened water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 1 hour.

Stir the shrimp, crab, and oysters into the gumbo, recover, and cook 20 minutes longer.