1pound(16 ounces) smoked sausage sliced ¼-inch thick (See Tip 2)
½cup(3.5 ounces) vegetable oil (See Tip 3)
½cup(2.5 ounces) all-purpose flour
1cupchopped onions (1 small to medium onion)
½cupgreen bell pepper, chopped
½cupcelery, chopped
3clovesgarlic, minced
1 to 2teaspoonsCajun seasoning (See Tip 4)
2cups(16 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
Retained liquid from Hoppin’ John
½teaspoonKosher salt (See Tip 5)
Instructions
Drain the leftover Hoppin’ John. Retain the liquid to add to the gumbo. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and the fat has been rendered, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain well. Discard the fat.
Add the vegetable oil and flour to a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly until the roux reaches a deep peanut butter or milk chocolate color, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the onions, bell pepper, and celery. Stir to combine, then cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender.
Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add the chicken broth, reserved Hoppin’ John liquid, and cooked sausage. Cook, stirring until thickened. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the drained Hoppin’ John and salt. Cook for 10 minutes, or until heated through.
Adjust the seasonings. Garnish with chopped green onion tops. Serve with rice.
Yield: 6 servings. (See Tip 6)
Video
Tips/Notes
You can substitute 2 15-ounce cans of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed, for the Hoppin' John. Increase the chicken broth to 3 cups, and adjust the seasonings.
I always use Conecuh Original smoked sausage. However, feel free to substitute andouille sausage. Unlike Conecuh sausage, which needs to be cooked, andouille sausage is fully cooked, so you can skip the cooking step.
I used peanut oil because that's what I had on hand. However, feel free to use whatever high-heat vegetable oil you have on hand.
I used Emeril's Essence for the Cajun seasoning, but feel free to use your favorite Cajun seasoning. Start with 1 teaspoon of the Cajun seasoning and add additional Cajun seasoning to taste.
Wait until the end to add the salt. The other ingredients contain salt, so use additional salt sparingly. ½ teaspoon was the perfect amount for my taste.
Leftovers are excellent. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat gently.