Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo
Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo blends a rich, dark roux with smoky sausage and bacon, tender okra, and juicy shrimp for layered, soulful flavor. The gentle heat from cayenne and green chiles rounds it out, making it perfect ladled over hot rice for a cozy family dinner or a festive weekend gathering.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook2 hrs 15 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 6 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 19
- Heart Health
- 67
- Metabolic
- 37
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Brown sausages in a skillet over medium heat.
- 2
Drain the sausages onto a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside.
- 3
Drain the skillet.
- 4
Cook bacon until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
- 5
Remove the bacon to the plate with the sausages.
- 6
Cook the okra in the bacon drippings until tender, about 5 minutes.
- 7
Drain the okra in a colander.
- 8
Drain the skillet.
- 9
Place the okra and tomatoes in the skillet over medium heat.
- 10
Bring to a simmer.
- 11
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
- 12
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- 13
Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, green onions, parsley, and garlic.
- 14
Cook until the onions turn brown, about 10 minutes.
- 15
Transfer the vegetables to a bowl, leaving the melted butter and any vegetable liquid in the pot.
- 16
Stir in the flour; reduce the heat to low.
- 17
Cook, stirring constantly, until the roux is the color of milk chocolate, 30 to 45 minutes. Do not burn.
- 18
Return the cooked vegetables to the pot and stir to coat them with the roux.
- 19
Whisk in 2 cups water, raise the heat to medium, and stir in the salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, and bay leaves.
- 20
Bring the mixture to a boil.
- 21
Stir in the sausage, bacon, okra-tomato mixture, and the remaining 6 cups water.
- 22
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the gumbo, stirring occasionally, until the stew thickens and the flavors blend, about 45 minutes.
- 23
Add the shrimp and simmer until pink and opaque, 6 to 8 more minutes.
- 24
Discard the bay leaves and adjust seasonings, if desired, before serving.
- Calories 398.88 kcal Moderate 20%
- Protein 29.55 g Good Source 59%
- Carbohydrate 22.08 g 8%
- Total Fat 21.47 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 9.03 g High 45%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 228.4 mg High 76%
- Sodium 707.79 mg High 31%
- Dietary Fiber 5.22 g Moderate 19%
- Total Sugars 6.2 g --
- Added Sugars 1.75 g Low Source 4%
- Calcium 111.16 mg Low Source 9%
- Iron 1.84 mg Moderate 10%
- Potassium 429.07 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 125.32 mcg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin C 15.67 mg Moderate 17%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Grandma in Law's Classic Shrimp Gumbo is a Cajun and Creole dinner recipe made with 18 ingredients. It takes about 3 hrs, serves 12, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, and Cut Okra. Each serving provides about 398.88 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo?
- It is a Cajun and Creole recipe made with 18 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Cut Okra, Diced Onion. The full list of 18 is above.
- What goes well with Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo?
- Explore these Cajun and Creole side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo?
- About 3 hrs in total: 45 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 398.88 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 18 ingredients and 24 steps.
- Is Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo healthy?
- Grandma-in-Law’s Classic Shrimp Gumbo has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 398.88 calories and 29.55 g of protein, or 59% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 707.79 mg (31% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.03 g (45% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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