Vegan Gumbo

Vegan gumbo is a classic New Orleans dish. Bold, spicy, and iconic, vegan gumbo boasts as much rich cultural flavor and heritage as the city itself. This slow-cooker vegan gumbo recipe has all the classic staples. This recipe also includes diced tomatoes and carrots for an extra-hearty veggie stew. To really add more flavor, tomato and onion are processed with herbs and spices, lots of garlic and some mustard and Worcestershire sauce and then added to the gumbo.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons Creole mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1-quart vegetable stock or broth
• 4 cups sliced okra
• 1 (16-ounce) can red beans, drained and rinsed
• 8 cremini mushrooms quartered
• 1 1/2 cups diced zucchini 1 medium
• 1 1/2 cups diced green pepper 1 large
• 1 1/2 cups diced red bell pepper 1 large
• 1 cup thinly sliced celery
• 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
• 1/2 cups sliced green onion

Instructions

1. Place vegetable oil and flour in a Dutch Oven with a heavy bottom. I like to use a cast iron Dutch oven. Turn the heat on medium and whisk continuously until mixture becomes fragrant.
2. Turn heat to low or medium-low depending on the size and heat your burner gives off. Continue to whisk continuously until roux becomes a dark caramel color, like the color of an old penny. This could take 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Remove Dutch oven from heat.
4. In a food processor, process tomato, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, liquid smoke, vinegar, hot sauce, soy sauce, thyme, red pepper flakes, paprika, nutmeg, and oregano until mixture is smooth.
5. Place Dutch oven with roux over medium-high heat and add tomato/onion puree. Stir to mix together. Continue to cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
6. Add vegetable stock and stir. Bring to a simmer.
7. Add beans, mushrooms, zucchini, green and red pepper, and celery and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
8. Serve with rice and green onions.