Okra
I needed to make something spicy and satisfying this weekend that would also stretch to feeding a few friends, and thought a gumbo might work well. Gumbo is a catch-all phrase like stew, it can mean a wide variety of spicy Cajun style stews. I made one with chicken, prawns and spicy sausage, and it worked out quite inexpensive as I was able to pick up most of my ingredients in Lidl. It turned out pretty well, served over rice with crusty bread on the side.
I used a combination of different recipes, you can find some at Gumbocity.com and About.com. And my shopping list worked out like this:
[TABLE=2]
Pretty good value for a meal with three different meats in it, that produced four generous portions. I already had the necessary spices (chilli, cayenne pepper, paprika, oregano) in the house, but those could be picked up cheaply at any ethnic food store.
Tuesday 13 January, 2009 at 11:13 am
Indeed, you’d get those herbs and spices in most supermarkets (but not Lidl and probably not Aldi)
Sunday 18 January, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Hey Peter…Lidl do sell spices, they don’t have a huge range but definitely have chilli, paprika, basil, stuff like that.
Monday 19 January, 2009 at 1:40 am
Natural food stores sell spices in clear plastic bags for far less per given weight than any other grocery stores that I know of.
Friday 23 January, 2009 at 1:46 am
Hey, I’ve just recently visted New Orleans and tasted the most incredible gumbo…..I’ve been wanting to make it since coming back but I’m not sure on where to get Okra……In the recipe you say you got it in an Local African shop but I’m not sure when any are in Dublin.
Friday 23 January, 2009 at 10:38 am
I’m so jealous Leanne! The food in New Orleans is incredible.
There’s quite a few African shops on Moore St in Dublin city centre I think, and you’d probably also get okra in the Asian shops like the Oriental Emporium. Also, if you can’t find okra you can use roux to thicken the gumbo instead.
Friday 23 January, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Hi again Leanne..I was just in The Spice of Life on Moore St at lunchtime, and they have canned okra for €1.19. Other halal shops would probably have it as well.