Prep time15 mins Cook time1 hour 40 mins Total time1 hour 55 mins Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 4 Andouille sausage
• Salt and black pepper
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• ⅔ cup all purpose flour
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large green bell pepper, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bottle beer (I recommend something not too heavy—an amber is good)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1–10 ounce can diced tomatoes with chiles
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (recommended: Tony Chachere’s)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• Louisiana hot sauce, to taste (recommended: Crystal)
• Rice, minced parsley and diced green onions for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil over high heat in a heavy-bottom cast iron Dutch oven. Season the chicken thighs liberally with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown each side of the thighs for 2-3 minutes, or until just seared and browned. Make sure not to crowd the pan. Remove the thighs to a plate, and continue with remaining thighs.
2. Cut the sausage into 1/2” slices (“coins”). Add to Dutch oven and brown each side. Remove the sausage to the same plate as the chicken.
3. Once all thighs and sausage are brown, lower heat to medium-low, then add the butter to the pot and melt completely. Add in the flour, and stir well to combine.
4. Continue stirring constantly (or at least, very frequently), until the mixture is just a little darker than peanut butter, about 20-25 minutes. Make sure to scrape the “corners” of the pan to avoid any burning.
5. Once the roux is the right color, add in the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Cook until just beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
6. Pour in the beer, and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze it and get all the good browned chicken bits in the étouffée.
7. Add in the bay leaves, diced tomatoes with chiles, chicken stock, maple syrup, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, sausage, and the chicken thighs. Also add in salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
8. Turn heat up to high, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until the mixture is thick, bubbly, and the chicken thighs are falling apart. Use two forks to shred the chicken thighs if they need any help.
9. Serve with a big pile of rice, plus extra hot sauce for those who like it a little bit spicier. Top with minced parsley and diced green onions.

Notes

Make sure to taste along the way while cooking, the heat can really build in this dish, and it’s better to let your dinner guests customize their own heat with hot sauce on the table than blow them out of your kitchen with their first bite.

Étouffée really is better the next day. Stash it in the fridge for at least 24 hours before serving.

Beer not your thing? No problem. Just use an extra cup and a half of chicken stock in place of it.

Speaking of chicken stock, homemade is an absolute must with this dish—the flavor is worth the extra time. If you’re in a pinch, make sure you look for high quality low-sodium chicken stock from the grocery store.

To assure the perfect “brown” for the roux, use flour that has been browned in the oven. This can be done as much as a week ahead of the actual making of the Étouffée.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups All-Purpose Flour (I prefer King Arthur flour)

DIRECTIONS

For Preparing the Roux

For Use

Use the amount called for in the gumbo recipe. For example, 1 cup or 3/4 cup. Whatever it may be.

When ready to use, you can mix equal parts dry roux and water until smooth. Or you can add an equal portion of dry roux to heated oil in a skillet and mix thoroughly. No need to brown it any further.

I like to add the dry roux by itself to the pot of onions, bell peppers, and celery as they finish sautéing. Then I add the andouille (after degreasing and slicing) and let that sauté for a bit before adding the stock.

This dry roux can be stored in a glass jar for future use.