From A Past Edition Of The New Orleans Menu Daily By Tom Fitzmorris Click here for the current edition Turkey And Sausage Gumbo We smoke two turkeys every year for our Thanksgiving dinner, and that leaves behind a large quantity of secondary parts--the backbone, the wing, that kind of stuff. Those carry much of the perfect meat for making gumbo. And since the turkey is already smoky, the flavor of the soup has a head start on lustiness. I usually prepare the stock while I'm cleaning up the kitchen Thanksgiving night. Then I let it cool, and put the stock and the turkey meat into the refrigerator for a day or two before I finish the gumbo. Stock: One or two cooked turkey carcasses, with all available scraps 2 bay leaves 1 medium onion, cut up 2 ribs celery, cut up 1 tsp. thyme 1 Tbs. black peppercorns 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup flour 1 large onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 ribs celery, chopped 3 quarts chicken stock (or water) 1 Tbs. salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1/4 tsp. Tabasco 2 bay leaves 1/4 tsp. dried thyme 1 lb. andouille or smoked sausage 2 green onions, chopped 2-3 cups cooked rice Filé powder (available from stores with New Orleans products) 1. Collect all the leftover turkey bones and meat, omitting the skin. Put them into a big enough stockpot that you can add at least two gallons of water. Add the bay leaves, cut-up onion, celery, thyme, and peppercorns. Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to lowest setting. Simmer for and hour or two. 2. Strain the stock. Set the bones and the meat aside; discard the vegetables. If you like, you can put the process on hold at this point by letting the stock cool and refrigerating it, along with the turkey bones and meat. 3. To complete the gumbo, blend the flour and the oil in a saucepan and make as dark a roux as you can, stirring constantly to avoid burning it. (The higher the heat, the more assiduously you must stir.) 4. When the roux is medium-dark, turn down the heat and add the onion, bell pepper, celery and parsley. Sauté them in the roux until the onions are clear and have begun to brown a little. 5. Skim the fat off the top of the stock, and add it to the roux. Bring to a light boil. 6. While that's happening, pick the meat from the turkey bones and set aside. Slice the andouille into one-inch-thick discs. Wrap them in paper towels and microwave them on medium power for about three minutes, to remove excess fat. Add the turkey meat and the sausage to the gumbo pot. 7. Lower to a simmer and cook the gumbo for one to two hours. Stir every now and then. 8. Add the green onions and simmer for another three or four minutes. 9. Serve over cooked long-grain rice with a pinch or two of filé at the table. Serves six to ten. Click here for an index of recipes from past editions. © 2006 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com