Chicken-Tasso-Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Prep :45 minutes      Cook: 4 hours      Makes 5 quarts (about 20 servings)

4            pounds skinned and boned chicken thighs
1            pound andouille or smoked sausage
1            pound tasso or smoked ham
1            cup vegetable oil 
1            cup all-purpose flour 
4            medium onions, chopped 
2            large green bell peppers, chopped 
2            large celery ribs, chopped
4            large garlic cloves, minced
4            (32-oz.) boxes chicken broth 
1-1/2      teaspoons dried thyme
1            teaspoon black pepper
1/2         teaspoon ground red pepper
1/3         cup chopped fresh parsley
                  **Hot cooked rice **
          Garnishes: sliced green onions, filé powder 

1.      Cut first 3 ingredients into bite-size pieces. Place in a large Dutch oven over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, 20 minutes or until browned. Drain on paper towels. Wipe out Dutch oven with paper towels.

2.      Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat; gradually whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 25 minutes or until mixture is a dark mahogany.

3.      Stir in onions and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring often, 18 to 20 minutes or until tender. Gradually add broth. Stir in chicken, sausage, tasso, thyme, and black and red ground peppers.

4.      Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 2 1/2 to
3 hours. Stir in parsley. Remove from heat; serve over hot cooked rice. Garnish, if desired.

TIP :

Shrimp-Tasso-Andouille Sausage Gumbo: Omit chicken thighs and proceed with Steps 1, 2, and 3. Proceed with Step 4, stirring in 4 lb. medium-size raw shrimp, peeled and, if desired, deveined, the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Tasso is a spicy smoked cut of pork or beef popular in many Cajun dishes.