True New Orleans Creole Gumbo - Family Dish

Ingredients

• ¾ cup bacon grease
• 1 cup plain flour
• 2 (10-ounce) packs frozen okra, defrosted
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped into big pieces
• 1 onion, cut into rough chunks
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup chopped celery, roughly cut
• 1 lb sliced andouille sausage
• 3 lbs uncooked medium shrimp, cleaned and shells removed
• 1 lb crabmeat, lump-style
• 6 beef bouillon cubes
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar (white and plain)
• 3 quarts water
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp hot sauce (like Tabasco)
• 4 teaspoons file powder, split
• ½ tsp Cajun spice blend (like Tony Chachere's)
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 4 dried bay leaves
• A bit of salt, to your liking
• 1 tbsp sugar