Vegetarian Gumbo With Free Printable

"I have to admit that creating this recipe felt particularly sinful, maybe even blasphemous. Gumbo is a dish that you don't wanna fuck with. It feels like a psalm or its own story in a holy text. It belongs to a city of saints, kings, and Zulu. Its foundation is a Negro Vatican in its trinity of vegetables - celery, onion, and green bell pepper with okra as its West African pope. This dish tested my faith. My wife, Cybille, who is Haitian, prayed for me and called spirits for my protection in Kreyol. Thankfully, I survived."

- Omar Tate

Welcome to our kitchen! This vegetarian gumbo tastes delicious and is easy on the eyes. With colorful ingredients and a variety of shapes represented, you'll have plenty to admire with each spoonful.

We like it so much, we've made a free printable recipe with pics for you to try at home. Simply scroll to the bottom or use the table of contents below to get your free vegetarian gumbo recipe.

If you like this vegetarian gumbo, you should try shrimp and chicken sausage gumbo, jollof rice, braised oxtail, and Mother Africa sauce, as well as sambusas.

Learn more about cooking with kids.

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Black Food Cookbook

This vegetarian gumbo recipe comes from the Black Future chapter of Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora by Bryant Terry.

All the recipes in Black Food look delicious, the artwork is incredible, and the stories are heartfelt. There's history and wisdom pouring out of every page. If that wasn't enough, it even contains a playlist for each chapter. Every cookbook should be this cool.

All recipes from Black Food can be enjoyed with an accompanying playlist. Search Bryant Terry's Black Food playlist on Spotify or grab the cookbook for more information.

Bryant Terry, curator and editor of Black Food, served as the chef-in-residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) from 2015-2022.

Bryant is now the founder/editor-in-chief of 4 Color Books, an imprint of Ten Speed Press and Penguin Random House. Flavor + Us, by Rahanna Bisseret Martinez, is a recent publication.

Learn more about Bryant Terry.

If you like this recipe from Black Food, be sure to check out this cinnamon roll pound cake by Jocelyn Delk Adams, also from Black Food.

Black Food also includes beautiful food photography by Oriana Koren.

Omar Tate and his wife, Cybille St.Aude-Tate, currently run Honeysuckle Projects.

Get to know Omar Tate through his own words with this moving interview on Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan.

Stop by our shop to see more Family & Kids' Cooking Resources.

Learn more about allergies and your family.

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What is in Vegetarian Gumbo?

This vegetarian gumbo recipe includes celery, onion, green bell pepper, okra, baby lima beans, black-eyed peas, chili peppers, and tofu, making it a colorful work of art you'll appreciate more and more as you're preparing it.

You really need to read Omar Tate's words in Black Food to fully grasp the depth and intention behind this dish and each and every ingredient that was chosen to create this vegetarian gumbo.

In Black Food, Omar Tate writes:

One of the most important things about Black food history is that it is delicious. Even under the weight of oppression, behind the blindness of night, and the weariness of bones, we found it necessary to enjoy the taste of our food. That is a triumph of immeasurable desire and fortitude, in my opinion.

- Omar Tate

What is Wanda's Seasoning?

Wanda's seasoning is a creole spice mix consisting of Smoke Paprika, New Mexico Chili, Sweet Paprika, French Thyme, New Mexico Oregano, Black Pepper, Granulated Garlic, Celery Seed - No Salt.

It is commonly used in gumbo recipes and can be added to fish, vegetable, meat, and egg recipes for additional flavor.

If you don't have Wanda's seasoning, that's cool, you can still make a delicious gumbo. We'll show you how to make an incredible homemade gumbo spice mix below.

What is Filé Powder?

This gumbo filé powder is made of ground sassafras leaf and is commonly, but not always, found in traditional gumbo dishes.

Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe

Ingredients

• thyme
• parsley
• mushrooms
• garlic
• water
• onion
• leek
• celery
• baby lima beans
• black-eyed peas - we've been buying our beans from Rancho Gordo and these black-eyed peas do not disappoint
• oil - this vegetarian gumbo calls for palm oil but you can use what you have on hand. We used avocado oil.
• flour - we prefer to bake with all-purpose einkorn. Einkorn is an ancient grain that is easy to work with, tastes great, and is a healthy option
• bell peppers - use green bell peppers for a delicious and stunning vegetarian gumbo
• tomato paste
• chili pepper - this recipe calls for a Scotch bonnet chile, but we decided to use habaneros that we already had on hand
• tofu
• okra - fresh is best but you may also find okra pre-cut into rounds in the freezer section of your local market
• salt
• pepper
• filé powder
• Wanda's seasoning or gumbo spice mix - if you don't have Wanda's seasoning, this homemade gumbo spice mix includes oregano, thyme, bay leaf, garlic powder, onion powder, red chile flakes, cayenne, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and stevia. You can also use sugar in place of the stevia blend. We'll show you how to make it below
• piri piri sauce
• rice - this gumbo recipe is ready to eat when served with white rice, such as Jasmine rice

Equipment

• apron
• jars with lids
• prep bowls
• child-friendly knife
• cutting board
• chef knife
• butcher block
• sheet pan
• measuring spoons
• measuring cup
• kitchen scale
• Dutch oven
• wooden spoon
• strainer

1. Soak the Black-Eyed Peas and Baby Lima Beans

Wash your hands with soap and water. Use jars with lids and salt to soak the black-eyed peas and lima beans separately in water overnight.

2. Prep the Vegetables and Tofu

Wash your hands. Use a child-friendly knife and cutting board to prep the mushrooms, (we took off the stems and sliced), garlic, onions, leek, celery, bell pepper, chili peppers, and okra. This is also a good time to cube the tofu.

I would recommend placing them in separate prep bowls or at least grouping them according to when they are added to the rest of the gumbo ingredients.

How to Slice Mushrooms

Katalina and Noah learn how to slice mushrooms while making this tasty Vegetarian Gumbo from Black Food cookbook.

Kaia spent time behind the scenes learning how to edit and upload educational videos. All three kids picked out the music.

3. Make the Mushroom Stock

Add the thyme, parsley, mushrooms, garlic, and water to the Dutch oven or a large stockpot. We chose to use the Dutch oven to cut down on the dishwashing duties since we knew we wanted to use it for the gumbo.

Char the onion, leek, and celery with the cut side down. This can be done over an open flame or in our case, by broiling on high in the oven. You want to char them until they are slightly cooked and looking black. Once they're ready, add them to the Dutch oven or stockpot.

Turn the stove to low. Let the ingredients simmer for 1 hour.

4. Make the Gumbo Spice Mix

While that's going, you can make the gumbo spice mix.

If you're using Wanda's seasoning, you can skip this step.

To make the gumbo spice mix, use measuring spoons to combine:

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon powdered bay leaf
• 1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon red chile flakes (we used Kashmiri chillies)
• ½ teaspoon ground cayenne
• 2 tablespoon sugar or stevia
• 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Set aside for later.

5. Start the Roux for the Vegetarian Gumbo

When the stock is finished you can transfer it to mason jars or whatever storage containers with lids that you prefer.

Add the oil to the cleanish pot and heat it up on low heat. Once it's hot, you can add the flour and stir the roux continuously until it is caramelized. This will take about 15 minutes.

6. Add the Holy Trinity: Celery, Onion, & Bell Pepper

Add the celery, onion, and bell pepper to the pot and stir until the vegetables have softened. This will take about 12 minutes.

7. Add the Tomato Paste, Chili Peppers, and Garlic

Add the tomato paste, chili peppers, and garlic. Give it a stir.

8. Add the Black-Eyed Peas and Lima Beans

Using a strainer, drain the black-eyed peas and lima beans. Add them to the pot of gumbo ingredients. Give everything a stir.

9. Add the Mushroom Stock

Add 4 cups of mushroom stock to the Dutch oven. Give it a stir and then add 4 more cups of stock to the pot while stirring continuously.

Turn the heat to medium-high so the gumbo will come to a boil. Once it is boiling, turn the heat down again. Let it simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.

10. Add the Tofu and Okra

Add the tofu and okra to the pot. If you're using a 5.5 qt Dutch oven like us, that baby is now full.

Allow the gumbo to simmer until the peas and beans are tender. That should take about 20 minutes.

11. Season with Salt, Pepper, Filé, Gumbo Spice Mix, & Piri Piri Sauce

Season your gumbo with salt, pepper, filé powder, gumbo spice mix (or Wanda's if you have it), and hot sauce, such as piri piri sauce, or vinegar. This gives you a lot of control over the final outcome so choose wisely!

12. Serve With Rice

Serve it with your favorite white rice. We used Jasmine rice and topped it with piri piri sauce because it's just perfect that way.

Free Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up

Grab your free printable recipe cards above. Kids can gather ingredients using the ingredient list, gather their equipment with the tools list, and prepare the dish using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.

The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for North America.