Chicken, Duck, and Smoked Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 duck leg quarters, cut in 1/2
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups Dark Brown Roux, see How To Roux, recipe follows
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped bell peppers
• 2 pounds smoked sausage, such as andouille or kiebasa, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices, browned in a skillet, and drained on paper towels.
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 3 bay leaves
• 10 cups chicken stock
• 3 pounds boneless chicken meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 teaspoons Emeril's Bayou Blast, recipe follows
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion tops
• Steamed White Rice, for serving
• Hot Sauce, for serving

Directions

Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Lightly season the duck legs with salt and pepper. Cook the duck legs in the hot oil until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from the stockpot and set aside to drain on paper towels.

Place the roux in the Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. When the roux is hot, add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted. Add the browned duck legs, sausage, salt, cayenne, and bay leaves. Continue to cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the stock in a slow stream, whisking until incorporated.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. Season the chicken with the Bayou Blast and add to the pot. Return the gumbo to a simmer and cook an additional 45 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley and green onions. Remove the bay leaves and serve in warmed bowls with steamed white rice. Pass hot sauce at the table, if desired.

How to Roux:

3 cups vegetable oil

5 cups all-purpose flour

Place a heavy, iron Dutch oven, (or iron skillet with deep sides) over medium heat and heat the oil until just smoking. Whisk in flour, a little at a time and cook, whisking constantly, until roux becomes smooth and thick. Continue to cook, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon and reaching all over bottom of pan, until roux darkens to desired color. Be careful not to produce specs of black. The roux must remain an even color throughout process. If specs appear you must start over.

For a Light Brown Roux, cook the mixture, over medium heat for 1 1/2 hours, or until the color of peanut butter. Remove about 1 cup of the light colored roux, cool completely, and set aside for the Delmonico's Seafood Okra Gumbo.

For a Medium Brown Roux, cook the mixture, over medium heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the color of a copper penny when ready. Remove about 13/4 cups of the medium colored roux, cool completely, and set aside for Emeril's Country File Gumbo.

For a Dark Brown Roux, cook the mixture an additional 35 to 45 minutes. The color should resemble dark chocolate when ready. Remove all of the remaining dark roux from the pan and cool completely. Set aside for the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.

Yield: about 4 1/2 cups roux

NOTE: The timings for various shades of roux will vary depending on the cooktop as well as the amount of roux made. (A smaller amount will cook in much less time.) If this is your first time making a roux, the slower you cook it, the less likely you will be to burn it. The important thing is to cook the roux to the desired color, as specified above.

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.