How to Make Louisiana-style vegan Gumbo with help from your Vitamix

Last Updated October 27, 2017

I’ll have the gumbo.

Said every visitor to the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a vegan gumbo?

Never been uttered.

Here’s a Louisiana-style gumbo, made with a rue and all, that would likely infuriate Paula Dean. It’s that good.

A gumbo with okra that's entirely plant-based

Shalva’s getting really good at veganizing traditional recipes.

So while I get to work on helping people figure out which Vitamix to buy, she’s busy cooking an okra gumbo for lunch.

How lucky am I?

Okay, I did help a bit. Here’s how.

Explain Gumbo made start-to-finish in the Vitamix

A bit of history.

In 2015, I published an absurdly long YouTube video comparing the Vitamix to a Nutribullet. In it, I wanted to show how the Vitamix can make hot soup start-to-finish and the Nutribullet cannot.

So instead of making the time-honored demonstration recipe, Tortilla Soup, I wanted to make gumbo using the same method. It worked nicely. It was:

Easy.

Quick.

Required very few pots, pans, kitchen tools. Just a Vitamix.

Plus you didn’t need to worry about the exact measurements and type of vegetables. You could basically use whatever was in the fridge. (Must go!)

But it wasn’t gumbo, per se. It was vegetable soup with some rice, okra, and meat.

You can find this start-to-finish-in-your-Vitamix method in the useful tips section.

But just like we feel about animal products these days, it’s time to get real about using a Vitamix to make gumbo.

More traditional gumbo: Use your Vitamix to chop

To make traditional Louisiana gumbo, you need to chop a lot of veggies. The okra ought to be sliced carefully. Wheels of okra, if you will.

But the rest of the veggies?

Food-processor-style chopping is just fine.

Enter your Vitamix.

Just like we do with our detox salad or coleslaw, a low-speed pulse on golf-ball sized pieces works great.

Watch this video to get an idea of what we’re talking about.

It’s easy. 🙂

Less traditional gumbo: Plant-based meats

Plant-based meat that’s great for your gumbo is getting easier to find every day.

We got this sausage from the Herbivorous Butcher. Pretty dang good.

Maybe we make our own some day? Maybe?

Guys, you should make this gumbo. It’s:

Hearty.

Spicy.

Packed with flavor.

Go! Go make it!

Go make this Louisiana-style, vegan gumbo (with the help from your Vitamix) today!

Recipe

Louisiana Gumbo Print RecipePin Recipe Yield: 4 cups

You're needed for: 20 minutes

20 minutes Until it's done: 60 minutes

60 minutes

Lenny Gale Louisiana gumbo made from scratch with help from your Vitamix. Ingredients: ROUX

oil (any will do) - 1/8 cup

flour - 1/4 cup

vegan butter (or more oil) - 1 Tbsp.

VEGETABLES

onion - 1/2 of a whole

garlic - 4 cloves

celery - 3 stalks

green pepper (de-seeded) - 1/2 of a whole

roma tomato - 4 whole

vegan butter (or oil) - 1/5 Tbsp.

vegetable broth - 2 cups

worcestershire sauce - 1/8 cup

parsley (fresh) - 1/4 cup

paprika - 1/2 tsp.

cayanne - 1/2 tsp.

thyme - 1/2 tsp.

salt & pepper - to taste

MEATS

vegan chicken - 1/2 lb.

vegan sausage - 1/2 lb.

SERVE

white rice - 3 cups

green onions - 4 stalks Instructions: ROUX Heat the oil in a large pan with a lid Add flour and stir Add the “butter” Continue stirring until browned (took 7 min for us) Let cool VEGETABLES Chop the vegetables into small pieces using your Vitamix Pulse on low speed for a couple of seconds each Add to pan with roux once all chopped Add more “butter” and cook for 5 minutes Add the broth, worcestershire parsley and spices Chop your okra by hand and add to the mixture Turn to medium heat and cover Cook for 20 minutes “MEATS” Chop your meats by hand or in the Vitamix Add them to the vegetable mixture Cover and keep cooking for another 20 minutes SERVE Serve over fluffy white rice directly from the pot Garnish with green onions Snap a pic and tag #lifeisNOYOKE Enjoy! Useful tips for Louisiana Gumbo START TO FINISH GUMBO IN YOUR VITAMIX: PREP: Cook rice and any meat you plan to add. Cut vegetables (and meat if you’re using it) into pieces no larger than golf balls. PART 1: Add broth to your container. Add vegetables and seasoning. Start on Variable Speed 1 and ramp up to Variable Speed 10, then High. Run on High for 5 – 6 minutes (until contents are hot). PART 2: Turn Vitamix down to Variable Speed 2. Remove lid plug. Add meats and rice and blend for about 5 seconds (until pieces are chopped). MORE AUTHENTIC RECIPE (with help from your Vitamix) BELOW. Chop your okra by hand, you want the classic wheel-shape to be visible in your gumbo. You can buy okra in the freezer section if you can't find it fresh. Pin Recipe