Chicken & Sausage File Gumbo

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (4 lb) frying chickens
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/4 lbs kielbasa or 1 1/4 lbs smoked sausage, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• 1/2 lb baked ham, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons file powder

Recipe

• 1 put the chicken in a pot and add enough water just to cover. boil just until done.
• 2 remove the chicken from the pot, reserving the liquid. when the chicken cools enough to handle, remove the skin, take the meat off the bones and cut into bite sized pieces. set aside.
• 3 melt the butter and oil in a large pot over medium high heat, then add the flour. cook, stirring constantly, until it is a medium brown, lowering the heat to avoid burning, if necessary.
• 4 add the sausage, ham, onions, bell pepper, and garlic. cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• 5 add about 2 cups of the reserved chicken broth, the chicken, and all seasonings except the file powder. stir in the rest of the reserved chicken broth.
• 6 bring to a boil, then simmer for one hour, uncovered.
• 7 remove from the heat, stir in the file powder, then let stand for 5 minutes.
• 8 serve over steamed rice.