Recipe – Turkey and Sausage Gumbo

HARTFORD -- For Mardi Gras, the Southington Rotary Club is sponsoring a fundraiser event at a new restaurant called Tavern 42 and they are doing it up right with a New Orleans-inspired menu, full of gumbo, jambalaya, and the works! The event's proceeds are going to support House of Heroes.

The event takes place on Tuesday from 6:30-10 p.m. featuring passed hors d'oeuvres, food stations, and a buffet of cajun-themed food including this yummy gumbo:

Turkey & Sausage Gumbo
Ingredients:

• 1 cup green peppers - ¼” diced
• 1 cup celery - ¼” diced
• 1.5 cups white onion - ¼” diced
• 2lbs andouille sausage – sliced & cooked
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• ¼ cup garlic – chopped
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 table spoon black pepper
• 1 table spoon kosher salt
• 5 bay leaves
• 2 quarts turkey or chicken stock
• 4 cups cooked turkey - ½” diced
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 sliced green onion each order to garnish

Directions:

1. In a large pre-heated stock pot place oil & flour.
2. Constantly stir for 20 to 30 minutes until it is a smooth nutty brown consistency – Do Not Burn.
3. Place onions, peppers, celery & garlic into the pot. Stir an additional 5 minutes.
4. Pour in stock & keep stirring.
5. Place sausage & turkey into the pot.
6. Add additional spices into the pot & simmer for 45 minutes.
7. Ladle soup into the bowl & top with the cooked white rice & garnish with the green onions.