A classic dish that is often served during Mardi Gras celebrations, gumbo can be intimidating to make for the first time. This blog post will help you figure out what to serve with gumbo easier!
WHAT IS GUMBO?
Gumbo is a stew that is made with okra and usually contains chicken, sausage, or seafood. The dish can be thickened with either filé powder (made from sassafras leaves) or roux (a flour-based sauce).
Our favorite version can be found over at favorite family recipes, doesn't it look delicious??!!? We always make it with some of the sides for gumbo below so our meal is perfect every time!
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF GUMBO?
Gumbo's history is heavily debated, but what we do know is that the dish has roots in Native American cuisine. There are some claims by historians who believe the word 'gumbo' comes from a West African Bantu term for okra. Others say it originated with French settlers of New Orleans and was named after Guinea (a country in West Africa).
Gumbo is a fulfilling dish that can be a complete meal. Our family loves one-pot meals. They are delicious and easy to make. The clean-up is easy as well. WIN-WIN!
Gumbo is definitely a dish that can be tailored to your liking. If you don't like okra, leave it out. Don't like seafood? Leave it out and add another type of meat instead. The possibilities are endless!
Although gumbo is a meal in itself, you should serve sides with it. Sides are a great idea because it makes for a well-balanced meal, and you can offer something for everyone.
WHY YOU SHOULD SERVE SIDES WITH GUMBO
Gumbo is a hearty dish and can be filling. Sides will help fill you up and give you the energy you need to enjoy the rest of your day.
Sides are a great way to introduce new flavors to your palate. Gumbo is definitely a unique dish, so serve sides that will contrast well with it. For example, serve a sweet cornbread with your gumbo to balance out the flavors.
Sides offer a great introduction to what's for dinner, too! If you want your family excited about what they're having for dinner, make sure there is something new and interesting on the table as well. You can even serve some sides before the main dish arrives so everyone gets at least one taste of what you'll be having for dinner.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH GUMBO
Now that you know all of the reasons why you should serve sides with gumbo, what are some ideas for what to serve?
Rice: White or brown rice is a great accompaniment to gumbo. It's simple and easy to make, and it doesn't compete with the flavors of the dish itself.
Cornbread: Cornbread is a Southern staple and goes great with gumbo. It's also a great way to introduce new flavors to your palate.
We have a list of great sides that pair perfectly with gumbo. They are more than your typical sides. They really make your gumbo meal unique. Give these recipes a try the next time you are wondering what to serve with gumbo.
Have you ever had a corn muffin? They're the best! You can make your own at home, and this recipe for Corn Muffins With Bacon Cheese, And Onion is foolproof.
Breadsticks 6 Ways with Pillsbury pizza dough makes copycat breadsticks or cheese sticks from Pizza Hut, Olive Garden. These are the most authentic kitchen creations you can make at home!
You'll go crazy for these amazing, perfectly cooked biscuits when you try the easy Cream Cheese Biscuits recipe.
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread is an awesome side dish that you can enjoy with your family's favorite meals. The bread has a rich, buttery flavor and the brown color of it will make any meal look more appetizing than ever!
These Homemade Soft Fluffy Dinner Rolls are the best dinner rolls ever! These easy, soft, and light homemade bread will leave your guests asking for more.
Broccoli Cornbread is a cheesy, flavorful dish that's perfect for any occasion. The best thing about this side? It'll keep your tummy full and warm on those cool fall nights!
When you want to make a loaf of fresh, farmhouse-style white bread with the best ingredients and easy instructions that anyone can use for their first time ever making homemade yeast-risen dough; this is your go-to recipe!
This Sage Bread is the perfect pairing for your favorite sandwich. It has a sweet onion flavor that will make any meal feel more complete with each bite, especially if you're looking to spice it up in some way!
Classic Pasta Salad has the perfect blend of vegetables, Italian seasoning to really make it taste great. It'll be hard not to eat all your veggies when you're having this delicious meal for dinner.
My Grandma's Best Cucumber Salads are so easy, they're made with just the right amount of salad ingredients and dressing. Sometimes you need something that doesn't require a lot of time or effort to prepare but still tastes delicious!
The Best Shrimp Pasta Salad is fantastic for a reason! The dressing makes this salad as good as it gets. Use all of your favorite vegetables and flavors, you're certainly not limited to just tomatoes in this delectable dish that's sure never get old no matter how often I make it.
This Greek Rice Salad is an excellent side dish or starter for any meal! It's so simple to make but full of flavor. The best part? You can tweak its ingredients based on your preferences.
Try this easy chicken fried rice for a real crowd-pleaser, and it's so quick when you make the extra effort. You'll be surprised how fast your house will become filled with stacks of fluffy white jackets following along as they eat their fill!
Red Red Rice is such a delicious and easy side dish that you will want to make again. It's different than traditional rice dishes but so tasty!
This Instant Pot cheesy broccoli rice is always a crowd-pleaser. It's so easy to make and the flavor will have your mouth watering for more!
When I'm craving a quick, delicious sandwich that's hearty enough to fill me up but not so heavy or filling as some other fast food options out there, nothing beats the Italian herbs and cheese bread from Subway.
The taste of this cheese bread is sure to please any palate, with its crispy outer layer and gooey filling. It's great for breakfast or as an appetizer before dinner!
Imagine biting into a rich, cheesy bread reminiscent of your favorite seafood biscuits. This Italian Cheese Bread recipe will instantly make grilled cheese sandwiches taste better and is great for using as croutons on salads or just eating with dinner!
You won't be able to stop at just one bite of this delicious, filling crab dip. This easy smoked cream cheese recipe is perfect for any occasion.
The perfect dish to share with your loved ones, the Steak and Crab Legs recipe is a luxurious combination of king crab legs that are full of flavor like lobster. The rich meat will melt in your mouth while being paired perfectly by this tantalizing meal's blackened steaks or New York strip steak cooked medium rare until it reaches an amazing level!
This Simple Seafood Dip is the easiest appetizer to make. This amazing seafood and creamy dip can be ready in minutes with just some cans of crab or shrimp!
The Spicy Shrimp Dip is a great appetizer for game days or New Year. It has the perfect amount of spice that will make your taste buds go wild without being too overwhelming on their own!
You will love this spicy air fryer coconut shrimp with pina colada sauce. The flavor is out of this world! Try it for yourself today, just remember to save some room because these babies are finger-licking good!!!
Give your taste buds a break with these Easy Broiled Lemon Garlic Shrimp. Full of flavor and perfect for any occasion, this dish will make you feel like the king or queen that they were created to be!
Shrimpy, cheesy potatoes are the perfect addition to any meal! These Shrimp Potato Cheese Kebabs will be gone in no time at all.
This delicious and smokey potato salad is a great side dish or snack for any occasion. The creole flavors will make your taste buds dance with joy!
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is so easy to make, and it's a delicious side dish for when we grill out. It only takes minutes with this air fryer recipe!
The best way to enjoy the taste of summer is by eating delicious, fresh-from-the oven Mexican street corn casserole. This dish has been called Elote (their word for "tender") and makes an excellent side or can be eaten on its own as well!
This cream cheese corn casserole recipe is always a winner. The perfect combination of delicious flavors and textures makes it impossible to resist!
This casserole is the ultimate comfort food. It's warm and creamy with just enough spice to make it satisfying, but not so much that you feel burning in your mouth!
You can't go wrong with this Easy Cheesy Sweet Corn Casserole! It's the best-creamed corn casserole, full of flavor and ready in either an oven or crockpot.
This recipe for scalloped corn casserole is always a good choice. It can be added to virtually any meal, and will make your friends thank you long after they've taken their first bite!
TAKE GUMBO TO THE NEXT LEVEL
We know what to serve with gumbo is important, but what if you want to take your dish up a notch?
There are some spices you can use when making gumbo that will make it even more delicious. We have compiled the top five spices every gourmet chef should own and what they taste like so you can step up your gumbo game.
These spices are cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, coriander, and turmeric.
Cumin has a smoky flavor that pairs well with seafood gumbo. Smoked paprika will add a depth of flavor to your dish and chili powder will give it a kick. Coriander has a citrusy flavor and turmeric is what gives gumbo its signature yellow color.
Experiment with these spices the next time you make gumbo and see how they change the taste of your dish!
We hope this blog post has helped you figure out what to serve with gumbo. Gumbo is definitely a dish that can be made with a lot of different options. It's also one that you can easily have as a meal all by itself, but what makes it even better is to serve some sides with your gumbo!
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