This Gluten-Free Maryland Style Crab Shrimp Gumbo is great for New Years or any special celebration. Chock full of crab, shrimp and langoustine, it is a treat that your family and guests will appreciate.
I can’t believe the New Year is already here! With all the frenzy surrounding Christmas, I always look forward to just hanging out and relaxing at home with my family the week between Christmas and New Years. It’s a great time to make some comfort food for me and my family. I actually find cooking relaxing, so stirring a big pot of gumbo over the stove is a great way for me to gather my thoughts. Chopping, sauteing, stirring, tasting, smelling…these are the pleasures of cooking.
I try to start and end each day thanking God for the many blessings my family has been given, and at the start of the New Year, I reflect back on how fortunate I am to have a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes to wear, and good health.
This gumbo recipe is bountiful with a variety of seafood – crab, shrimp and langoustine. It is a celebratory dish that represents the abundant life we all live. We might not always think we live an abundant life if we measure that by what material possessions we own or how many friends we have. It’s always easy to look around and wish for more.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve actually gone the opposite direction. I find myself buying fewer new clothes and home furnishings, and spending more money on memories, whether it’s a family vacation or a meal out with family or friends. Memories with my family and friends are far more important to me than any material possessions. Quality friendships are more important to me than counting how many friends I have. I also get a huge amount of inspiration from cancer patients that I cook for in my community. Their positive outlook on life despite their circumstances makes anything I am challenged with pale in comparison. These intangible rewards are immeasurable.
This time, next year, my twin sons will be in college, and I’ll have just one son at home with me. I’m mindful of that fact more than ever. So, cooking for my family is really important to me – it’s my way of showing them how much I love them. And during the holiday season, cooking for my family and friends is my gift to them.
I came up with this Maryland Style Crab Shrimp Gumbo recipe as a way to combine two of my kids’ favorite meals – steamed Maryland crabs with Old Bay seasoning and Crawfish and Crab Gumbo. I grew up in Maryland so whenever we visit my folks, the boys love eating steamed Maryland crabs with Old Bay seasoning. They also developed a love for Crawfish and Crab Gumbo about 7 years ago, when one of the twins was playing in the 10-Year Old Little League World Series in Louisiana. So, what could be more special than everything they love combined into one dish.
Gumbo is traditionally made with a base roux, which is typically made with flour and lots of oil. To make this healthier and gluten-free, I used toasted sweet rice flour and a lot less oil. The vegetables used to flavor gumbo are traditionally onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic and tomatoes. To give this gumbo a Maryland kick, I added Old Bay seasoning in addition to Cajun seasoning.
I hope enjoy this gluten-free Maryland style crab shrimp gumbo!
Gluten-Free Maryland Style Crab Shrimp Gumbo
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sweet rice flour
Onion Garlic Puree
- 1 small onion roughly chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/4 cup water
Gumbo
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 7 1/2 cups water
- 1 14.5 ounce can 1 1/2 cups No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes with juice
- 2 snow crab legs cracked
- 3 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat
- 12 ounces langoustine
- 1/2 pound shrimp
- 1/2 cup minced parsley
To Serve
- Steamed Brown Rice
- chopped parsley
- chopped scallions
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rice flour in a pan; bake for 45-50 minutes until light brown, stirring halfway through.
Onion Garlic Puree
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Place onion, garlic and water in a microwave bowl. Cover with paper towel and microwave on high for 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender, add a little water (~ 3 tablespoons) and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Gumbo
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Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add toasted rice flour and cook one minute, stirring constantly. Add bell peppers, celery and garlic, and saute another 2 minutes. Add water, tomatoes, Onion Garlic Puree, snow crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and crabmeat (reserve some large lumps for serving), and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add langoustine, shrimp and parsley and simmer another 30 minutes.
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Serve over steamed rice with scallions and parsley.
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You can practically see all the flavor in this! Looks so good. Such a perfect dish for New Year’s!
Thanks Joanne – wishing you the best in 2014!
Great adaptation of a traditional gumbo recipe!
Thanks Lydia – my kids love gumbo and Old Bay, so this was a fun combination for them.
I agree, time spent with family and creating meaningful memories are definitely more important than material things. It’s so inspiring to hear all the work you do with cancer patients. This gumbo soup looks amazing and sounds so flavorful and comforting. Happy New Year Jeanette and all the best to you and your family for 2014.
Kelly – glad to find someone like minded. As my kids get older, memories are that much more important. Glad you like this gumbo. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Oh this does look delicious! I hope you have a great year in 2014.
Thanks Kalyn – Happy New Year!
I’m a lifelong Marylander myself, so this post definitely caught my eye! The gumbo looks delicious, and anything with Old Bay gets my immediate attention! 🙂 Really enjoyed your words on experiences over things, too. I feel the same way, and am trying to eliminate all the “stuff” that seems to clutter my physical space, mind and heart in the new year.
Old Bay is definitely a Maryland thing – glad to find a fellow Marylander. I do feel as I get older, it’s liberating when I eliminate all that extra stuff. Feels great to clean out all the clutter.
Beautiful post, Jeanette. Your gumbo is beautiful and I love the different kinds of seafood in it. Thank you so much for all the hard work and effort you put into your beautiful blog…I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings. Happy New Year, my dear friend.
Thanks Faith – I appreciate your kind words my friend. Can’t wait to see what 2014 will bring for you!
This looks so delicious. I love seafood dishes. Happy New Year! Looking forward to all of the yummies to come in 2014.
Thanks – seafood is always a treat in our house. Happy New Year!
A very delicious and flavourful gumbo!
Happy New Year, Jeanette.
Thanks Angie – Happy New Year!
Gorgeous, Jeanette! Loved reading this post. Your family is so lucky to have you and I hope you enjoyed this past week as a family between Christmas and New Year’s. I’m so glad we found each other’s blogs. I adore you and your blog and look forward to reading more in 2014. Happy New Year to you and yours, my friend! xo
Thanks Stacy – it was definitely nice taking a break during the holiday season. Looking forward to reading your posts and seeing what you’re up to in 2014! Happy New Year!
I also have a fondness for Old Bay and Steamed Blue Crabs growing up so close to Baltimore. This is a perfect NY Day dish. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Alyssa! We Marylanders never forget our crabs and Old Bay!
Such a yummy looking gumbo Jeanette. I am sure this tastes absolutely good, your recipes are always awesome.
Hope you had a great holiday and new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Thanks Ash – Happy New Year to you too!
This looks so good, Jeanette!! I love seafood! Hope your New Year is fantastic!!
Thanks Julie – seafood is always a treat in our house. Happy New Year!
Love, love, love gumbo, and this looks so good. I hope you had a wonderful New Year!
Shaina – gumbo is such comfort food isn’t it! Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!
G’day! Looks delicious Jeanette, have shared on twitter and pinned, true!
Reminds me of gumbo from my childhood in the US! YUM!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks Joanne and thanks so much for sharing this recipe – my kids love gumbo!
Thanks to you for sharing this hints for preparing the recipe. I like to taste this sea food.
This gumbo sound fabulous!
Thanks Kevin!