Family Gumbo Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter or shortening
• 4 medium onions, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour, or more if needed
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to desired heat level
• 4 tablespoons gumbo filé
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 cups water
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) whole tomatoes
• 4 bay leaves
• Salt
• black pepper
• 1 teaspoon liquid crab boil, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon sugar, or more to taste
• 1 1/2 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 8 ounces crabmeat (lump or claw) or 2–3 whole blue crabs
• 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced