Rouxless Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 2 cups sliced andouille sausage
• 2 cups okra
• 3/4 cup frozen corn
• Salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (optional)
• 2 teaspoons file powder
• 4 cups cooked rice

Directions

Place chicken in a large pot; add enough water to cover. Cover pot and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until meat falls off the bone, about 90 minutes. Remove chicken, let cool, and shred meat; skim broth and reserve.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions, bell pepper, and celery until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, andouille sausage, okra, corn, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and reserved broth; bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about 30 minutes.

Mix shredded chicken and shrimp into skillet; simmer until shrimp turns bright pink and okra is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in file powder. Serve with rice.