First off, what is gumbo? It’s a hearty, satisfying dish that has its origins in Louisiana, US. While there are many variations, at its base it’s a stew that is served on rice.
The main ingredients are usually seafood, sausage, and vegetables, particularly okra. If not thickened wit okra, the stew is thickened with a roux (butter and flour mixture).
It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what goes into a typical gumbo as there are so many variations.
- Seafood gumbo is common and includes shrimp, crab, and oysters.
- Chicken gumbo contains poultry instead and is often flavored with Andouille sausage.
- Green gumbo is made with several greens and vegetables such as turnip greens, collard, and mustard greens.
A common denominator of most gumbos is the traditional French “holy trinity” of diced onions, peppers, and celery which is gently fried in fat to start the dish off.
When making gumbo, it’s almost impossible to make a small amount so there are usually leftovers. The last thing you want to do is waste a morsel of this delicious dish so you may be wondering what to do with leftover gumbo.
Keep reading because we have 7 ideas for you.
What To Do With Leftover Gumbo?
If you’re going to be using those leftovers, it’s vital to store them carefully. This dish often contains seafood or chicken which tend to go off quickly and can make you very sick if they do.
Cool the gumbo quickly and refrigerate it immediately on the same day you make it. Store it in an airtight container. Use it within a couple of days.
1. Sandwich Spread
It doesn’t matter if your gumbo is hot or cold; you can use it to make a sandwich spread or filling for bread rolls. However, we suggest that you opt for cold leftover gumbo because it makes a better spread.
For this purpose, you need to mix the leftover gumbo with mustard sauce and mayo to create a spread that’s easy to apply to the bread slices.
In addition to the mustard sauce or mayo, you can also add some hot sauce or salad dressing, depending on your preferred flavors. You will need to finely chop the leftovers as well.
2. Serve It Hot
If you have ever tried gumbo, you would know that it probably tastes even better when reheated the next day. Waiting in the fridge seems to meld the flavors together and reheating seems to enhance them, resulting in a richer flavor.
When you reheat the gumbo, make sure you bring it to a proper boil and simmer it for a couple of minutes. Serve it straight away with some extra vegetables and rice to create a full meal if there isn’t enough.
3. Pasta Dish
If you don’t want to serve the gumbo as a stew again, you can always make it into a kind of pasta sauce. For this purpose, you need to cut up the leftovers into small chunks and then reheat them.
Add some jarred passata or pasta sauce if you like. Now add some boiled pasta or noodles to it and serve hot.
Alternatively, layer the gumbo sauce with lasagne sheets and cheese sauce to make a kind of “gumbo lasagne”. You can grate some parmesan cheese on top to elevate the richness of the recipe.
Bake the dish in the oven until it’s bubbling and the top layer is golden.
However, once you make a pasta dish with your gumbo, you need to eat it right away as it cannot be refrigerated and reheated a second time.
4. Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a well-known Cajun and American stew and rice meal and is known for its Spanish, African, and French influences. Many people confuse it with gumbo and they are similar.
The main difference is that gumbo is served on rice while jambalaya has the rice mixed through it. This is perfect to make with your leftover gumbo and rice.
Instead of storing them separately, mix the gumbo and rice in one container before refrigerating. To use, simply reheat and add some extra Andouille sausage or chicken. Instant jambalaya!
5. Snacks and Starters
Another way of eating your leftover gumbo is to take it as a snack or starter rather than as a full meal. For this purpose, you can just serve the leftover gumbo in small dishes with crackers or some good bread before the main meal.
6. Pot Pie
Leftover gumbo makes a marvelous pot pie when topped with pastry. Mix the gumbo with some leftover rice and add some extra protein like chicken or sausage if you like.
Put everything into the deep casserole dish, and top it up with your desired sauce if necessary. We recommend a tomato-based pasta sauce. The filling should be cold.
Roll out some ready-made puff pastry and put this over the top to make a pie. Brush the pastry with some egg and milk and bake the pie in a hot oven until the pastry is cooked and golden. Serve immediately.
7. Cajun Benedict
To make this finger-licking breakfast dish, toast some bread and put it on a serving plate. Heat the gumbo and spoon some onto the toast. Top this with a poached egg or two.
To Conclude
As you can see, there are many ways to use leftover gumbo. There really is no need to waste it. Let us know if you have any more ideas for us!