Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix!

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Zatarain's Gumbo Mix

When we visited Southeastern Oklahoma (aka Choctaw Country) in 2019, we stayed in a fantastic Airbnb with an amazing view. Each night I cooked at "home" and one evening I made a Shrimp Gumbo. It was easy...I used Zatarain's Gumbo Mix. If you haven't tried this and you like gumbo please give it a try!

Think of thisGumbo Mixas a base or foundation which can be used for chicken, seafood, or smoked sausage gumbo.

Gumbo is considered a quintessential dish of New Orleans, and is one of the great foods of the world! AndZatarain's, which is based in New Orleans, was founded in 1889 and is a New Orleans tradition.

So Zatarain's knows the food of New Orleans and their rice Gumbo Mix is a quick and easy way to enjoy this classic dish! Zatarain's describes their delicious mix as: "a flavorful foundation of long grain rice in a rich, seasoned roux with red and green bell peppers."

There are many different varieties of gumbo, and you can't go wrong with shrimp andZatarain's gumbo seasoning! Follow my recipe below for shrimp gumbo, or use your creativity to come up with your own delicious bowl of gumbo!

🥘 Ingredients

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (2)

All you need for the gumbo that I made is:

Box of Zatarain's Gumbo Mix (you should be able to find this at your local grocery store; I have also linked here to Amazon)
14.5 oz can of Stewed Tomatoes
1 lb shrimp
Cold Water - you could sub unsalted or low sodium chicken stock if you prefer
Hot Pickled Okra - Optional (but oh so good!)
Green Onions - Optional for garnish

You could also throw in some chopped red or green bell pepper if you like.

If you prefer chicken gumbo, substitute a pound of chicken for the shrimp. Or make a chicken and sausage gumbo by including some sliced andouille sausage.

The Zatarain's Gumbo Mix already includes rice, so you won't need to make additional rice to accompany this dish. They make it so easy to enjoy authentic New Orleans style food!

🔪 Instructions

This Shrimp Gumbo is rich and delicious! Would you believe it can be ready for dinner in about 30 minutes? YES!

Start by combining 6 cups water with the Zatarain's Gumbo Mix in a large pot (Zatarain's recommends a 4-quart saucepan). Stir well to combine thoroughly and bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to low, and then cover and simmer the mixture on a low heat for 15 minutes.

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (3)

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (4)

Stir in your shrimp and stewed tomatoes, and then cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes, or until the rice is tender.

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (5)

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (6)

Remove from heat, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Your seafood gumbo is now ready to enjoy!

Suggestions For Serving

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (7)

Dish up your gumbo into some lovely bowls, garnish with Hot Pickled Okra and green onions, and by all means add a splash or two of Tabasco as well!

The meal I cooked in Oklahoma was extra special because we had picked up some Hot Pickled Okra from Lovera's Market, in Krebs, OK, and I garnished our gumbo with this delicious okra!

You can also throw the Hot Pickled Okra in while cooking the gumbo, however I find it is perfect as a garnish.

If you would like to purchase the Hot Pickled Okra online, I have linked to Lovera's Market's Hot Pickled Okra here and above. You may also be able to find it at your grocery store, or you can check some varieties of Hot Pickled Okra for sale on Amazon by clicking here.

Lovera's Market, Krebs, Oklahoma

Lovera's is a small shop with all sorts of artisan foods...I wanted to buy EVERYTHING in that store! As indicated above, they have an online shop LoverasMarket.com so check it out if you get a chance!

Enjoy Some Shrimp Gumbo Soon!

To conclude, I hope you will enjoy some scrumptious Shrimp Gumbo, made easy with Zatarain's Gumbo Mix, very soon!

FAQ

What are the ingredients in Zatarain's Gumbo Mix?

The ingredients in Zatarain's Gumbo Mix include: "Enriched Long Grain Parboiled Rice (Rice, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid), Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Wheat & Malt Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Salt, Corn Starch, Red and Green Bell Pepper, Onion, Wheat Flour, Spices (Including Red Pepper, Chili Pepper), Garlic, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Yeast Extract, Malted Barley Flour & Soy Sauce (Wheat, Soybeans, Salt)." This information is fromhttps://www.mccormick.com/zatarains/products/dinner-and-side-mixes/rice-mixes-and-side-dishes/gumbo-mix-with-rice.

What seafoods can I use with Zatarain's Gumbo Mix?

This recipe calls for 1 pound of shrimp. However, you can use a mix of 1 pound of seafood including crab, oysters, and or shrimp.

Can you cook gumbo using the Zatarain's Gumbo Mix in the microwave?

This product includes microwave directions on the box. You can also find microwave directions at: https://www.mccormick.com/zatarains/products/dinner-and-side-mixes/rice-mixes-and-side-dishes/gumbo-mix-with-rice.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

New Orleans Style Red Beans and Rice
Incredible Camarones a la Mexicana
Easy Cajun Crawfish Sauce

1,000 Foods To Eat Project

In conclusion, gumbo is listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. I am working my way through the foods listed in this book. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. Gumbo is food #75 in my project! Please visit the 1,000 Foods To Eat Project page to see some other MUST TRY foods of the world that you may love to try!

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

If you'd like to come along with me on a fun food journey, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix!

Grace Stewart based on Zatarain's Gumbo Recipe

Delicious Shrimp Gumbo ready to enjoy in 30 minutes! This is so easy to make using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix as a base for an incredible gumbo that you will absolutely love!

Print RecipePin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Resting Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine creole

Servings 4 people

Equipment

large pot with cover

Ingredients

1 box Zatarain's Gumbo Mix
14.5 oz Stewed Tomatoes
1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
6 cups cold water sub unsalted chicken stock if you prefer
green onions optional for garnish
Hot Pickled Okra optional BUT Essential if you know what I mean! For garnish 🙂

Instructions

Combine 6 cups of water with the Zatarain's Gumbo Mix in a large pot. Stir well to combine thoroughly and bring to the boil.
Reduce heat to low, and then cover and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes.
Stir in your shrimp and stewed tomatoes, and then cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
Remove from heat, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Then put your gumbo into some lovely bowls, and garnish with green onions and some delicious Hot Pickled Okra!

Notes

Please forgive that there is no nutrition information provided, apologies for any inconvenience. Refer to the Zatarain's Gumbo nutrition information which can be found here.

Delicious Shrimp Gumbo on the table in around 30 minutes will make you very happy! Feel free to be creative and add mix ins of your own choice, for example okra, or chopped up red or green bell pepper if you like! Enjoy this taste of New Orleans!!

Keyword gumbo, seafood, Shrimp

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

FAQs

How to jazz up boxed gumbo? ›

Boil sausage on high in a separate pot for 2-3 mins just long to pre-cook it. Then rinse and drain the sausage to get rid of the excess residue from the meat. Add sausage to gumbo and bring back to a boil (it may or may not have begun to boil yet). Cover and let simmer for about 15 mins.

Read The Full Story ›

Do you have to cook shrimp before adding to gumbo? ›

Authentic Creole flavors and so easy to make! I used pre-cooked/Cajun-seasoned shrimp which made this gumbo with okra that much easier, but you can just use raw shrimp. Adjust the spice to make it as hot or mild as you'd like. Leftovers freeze well.

What is the secret to good gumbo? ›

Great gumbo starts with roux, a flavorful thickening agent made from equal parts fat and flour. Once the roux is a deep golden color, add diced veggies and sausage to the mix. Then, incorporate beef bouillon, hot sauce, tomatoes, and seasonings to intensify the flavor.

Get More Info Here ›

What to add to boxed gumbo mix? ›

Zatarain's Gumbo Mix is a flavorful foundation of long grain rice in a rich, seasoned roux with red and green bell peppers. Just add one pound of cooked chicken, smoked sausage or seafood, cut into bite size pieces and dinner is ready in just 30 minutes.

Discover More Details ›

When should I add the shrimp to my gumbo? ›

Bring the gumbo to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for one hour. Add the shrimp and okra to the pot, then cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes, until the okra is softened and no longer stringy.

Learn More Now ›

What are the 2 rules of gumbo? ›

Thou Shalt Always Use a Bowl. If you use a plate, it is not gumbo it is rice and gravy! Thou Shalt Only Use a Wooden Spoon. There is only one kind of spoon that can enter a gumbo pot and that is a wooden one.

Read On ›

What to add to canned gumbo to make it better? ›

Some good gumbo seasonings include paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, and bay leaves. Additionally, you can add other seasonings to adjust the flavor, such as black pepper, ground cumin, white pepper, and file powder.

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How can I improve my gumbo flavor? ›

In order to develop a deep roasted flavor in your gumbo, you should cook your roux — being careful not to burn — until it is a deep dark brown color. "Roux needs to be cooked low and slow to bring out the nutty flavor and rich dark color without burning it," says Chef Dickensauge of Houndstooth Saloon in Chicago.

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Can I put frozen shrimp in my gumbo? ›

Shrimp Gumbo – Instant Pot Recipes. Shrimp's popularity makes it easy to find in almost every grocery store. If you are able to source fresh shrimp from your fishmonger then use those, but frozen shrimp will work just as well.

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How do you keep shrimp from getting tough in gumbo? ›

Shrimp only need a few minutes to cook on their own. They should be added to the gumbo pot immediately after you have turned off the heat so they don't get overcooked and tough.

Find Out More ›

When to add frozen shrimp to gumbo? ›

If using pre-cooked frozen shrimp, thaw it in a bowl of cool water and add it to the gumbo when it's done, or nearly done, cooking. This will heat up the shrimp and keep it from turning to mush.

Easy Shrimp Gumbo Recipe Using Zatarain's Gumbo Mix! - Explore Cook Eat (2024)