Recipe: Okra-Shrimp Gumbo

OKRA-SHRIMP GUMBO

1/8 cup cooking oil
1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup shallots, chopped
2 boxes frozen okra, unthawed
3 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (16 oz) can whole tomatoes
4 quarts water (more or less)
salt and pepper to taste
1 pint salty oysters
TO SERVE:
Hot cooked rice

In large pot make roux of oil and flour stirring until dark brown.

Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and shallots; cook until wilted.

Cook okra in separate pot by frying in grease until almost all of rope is gone. Do not prepare ahead.

Add shrimp to vegetables. Cook until bright pink.

Add tomatoes and cook about 5 minutes.

Add cooked okra. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add water more or less depending upon consistency you prefer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook about 1 1/2 hours.

Add oysters 5 minutes before gumbo is done.

TO SERVE:
Serve with rice.