National Gumbo Day 2022: On October 12, which is National Gumbo Day, people enjoy a strong stock of meat and shellfish, onions, celery, bell peppers, and something thickening, like filé powder or okra. People in the American state of Louisiana love this dish, and it’s becoming more and more famous across the country.
This day encourages gumbo enthusiasts to savor and appreciate the varied interpretations and regional styles of this hearty dish. Whether you prefer seafood, chicken, sausage, or okra in your gumbo, National Gumbo Day is the perfect occasion to indulge in this comforting and soul-satisfying bowl of flavorful goodness.
Due to its history, the name “gumbo” comes from the West African word for okra. It has been a custom to eat this dish on this special holiday since at least the early 1800s, if not earlier.
History of National Gumbo Day
In New Iberia, Louisiana, National Gumbo Day has been celebrated since 1989, and in October, there is a Championship Gumbo Cookoff every year. Every year, this well-known event brings in two million dollars for the local economy. But because of worries about a virus, the event was pushed back to 2020.
When looking into where the word “gumbo” came from, there is still some misunderstanding. Okra is called “quilombo” in the Niger-Congo languages, and filé is called “kombo” in Choctaw, which is a Native American language. Both Gumbo and the American hamburger don’t have a clear history.
In the early 1800s, English residents in Louisiana found Gumbo, a thick, strong, and spicy stew-like dish that quickly became popular. People have called Gumbo the “official food” of Louisiana, and it is still an important part of the state’s cooking practices. Gumbo is something that almost every restaurant in the area serves.
Gumbo became more well-known after Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender’s Creole Gumbo was added to the Senate dining menu for good in 1972. This dish was made in two different ways by the Cajuns and the Creoles, who came to the area from France, Spain, and Africa as enslaved people.
Why National Gumbo Day?
In the 18th century, people in southern Louisiana made Gumbo with a strong-tasting stock made of herbs, veggies like celery, bell peppers, and onions, and meat or shellfish. People who cook Cajun food often call these three things the “holy trinity.” A lot of the time, Gumbo is eaten with rice. This food is also categorized by one of the following types of thickeners.
Nigerians grow okra.
Powdered and dried sassafras leaves are used to make Choctaw spice filé powder.
The French base is roux, which is made of flour and fat.
The nickname “Gumbo” comes from a West African word for okra, and a lot of people think that this shows how closely the name and the substance are connected. The first record of Gumbo was in 1802, and it started showing up in recipes in the late 1800s. It became more well-known after being added to the menu at the US Senate restaurant in honor of Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender in the 1970s. Gumbo is also known as the state dish of Louisiana. In 1989, the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff was held in New Iberia, Louisiana.
National Gumbo Day Timeline
the 1800s
A Brief History of Gumbo
Native American, French, Spanish, and African foods were mixed in Louisiana in the early 1800s to make Gumbo.
The very first gumbo recipe was written down in 1867.
People first found a recipe for Gumbo in the book “La Cuisine Creole.”
1968 Gumbo: The Official Food of Louisiana
It was made the official food of Louisiana in 1968, which shows how important it is to the state’s history and culture.
1989: The World’s Biggest Gumbo
At the yearly World Championship Gumbo CookOff in New Iberia, Louisiana, in 1989, more than 5,800 pounds of Gumbo were made, making it the world’s biggest Gumbo.
2004: The first National Gumbo Day
National Gumbo Day is a holiday that was created in 2004 to honor the cultural importance and broad popularity of Gumbo in the United States.
Why We Love National Gumbo Day
Gumbo makes you feel good.
Gumbo is a very tasty and cozy dish. This Southern classic is full of flavor, high in protein, and full of healthy veggies that will make you feel better. Something is comforting about Gumbo, whether you’re sick or want a warm hug in a bowl!
There are many kinds of Gumbo.
The fact that people change Gumbo in so many ways shows how adaptable it is. No matter what you’re looking for in a gumbo recipe—a veggie one, one with seafood for extra flavor, or one with sausage for the full Cajun experience—you can find it.
Making Gumbo is a big part of family customs.
Gumbo usually has recipes from a family’s favorite foreign foods. Giving your loved ones delicious bowls of Gumbo is a great way to honor long-standing food traditions and build community.
How to Celebrate National Gumbo Day
Enjoy the events on National Gumbo Day with these tasty ideas!
Discover the world of food by learning how to make Gumbo:
Make some tasty stew and learn about different kinds of food.
Mix the vegetables and andouille sausage in butter first, then add the chicken stock and Cajun spices. This will give the flavors time to blend.
Let the mix cook slowly for one hour.
Add the shrimp in the last few minutes and serve the tasty dish over white rice.
Visit New Orleans. Louisiana, where Gumbo was first made, is the best place to celebrate National Gumbo Day! New Orleans is on the Mississippi River, close to the Gulf of Mexico. It is famous for its delicious food, lively nightlife, long past, and jazz music that never stops. Try “The Big Easy’s” famous Gumbo when you go to the city.
Is today National Gumbo Day?
A heavily seasoned, stew-like dish is in the spotlight on National Gumbo Day which is annually observed on October 12. Originating in southern Louisiana during the 18th century, Gumbo is a dish that typically consists of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish, a thickener and seasoned vegetables.
Friday, October 12, is National Gumbo Day! The 18th century is where this dinner got its start in Louisiana. It is rich and delicious, with elements from Native American, French, African, and Spanish cultures. To make traditional Gumbo, you need different kinds of meat, like chicken or sausage, a roux (a mix of flour and oil), veggies like celery or onion, and spices like cayenne pepper or paprika.
No matter if you like traditional Gumbo made with beef or seafood gumbo made with shrimp or crabmeat, National Gumbo Day is a great time to eat a delicious meal.
Why is it called gumbo?
Consider the word “gumbo” which comes from the West African word “ki ngombo” for “okra”. West Africans used okra as a thickener in their version of the dish. The original West African gumbo has been described as stew-like, thickened with okra, and containing fish and shellfish.
There’s no question that Gumbo is Louisiana’s most famous and loved dish. It is served on the tables of both rich and poor people, regardless of their social class. People from different parts of Louisiana use different ingredients to make Gumbo, but it is still a beloved dish that reflects the state in the same way that chili does for Texas.
The past and origins of Gumbo are still being discussed, but it is often used to show how diverse and welcoming Louisiana cuisine is. The name comes from West Africa, where it was first used to refer to okra. Filé is made from powdered and dried sassafras leaves. It was brought to the area by the Choctaws and maybe other groups as well. Even though roux comes from France, it is much darker in gumbos than in other French dishes.
Cajun history expert Dr. Carl A. Brasseaux of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette found that Gumbo has been written about since the early 1800s. In 1803, Gumbo was served at a New Orleans governor banquet. By 1804, it was a common dish among groups of Acadian Coast Cajuns.
What culture eats gumbo?
It represents the intersection of three cultures—European, Native American, and West African—that created what we know today as Southern cuisine. “These days, gumbo is closely associated with Louisiana and, more specifically, with Cajun cuisine, and for good reason.
Gumbo is now always associated with Louisiana, especially Cajun food, and for good reason. Its roots are deeper than the Cajuns’ in Louisiana, though, and they have a bigger effect on the area.
European, Native American, and African cooking styles came together to make Gumbo. The dish came out in a better order with this plan. Gumbo is often associated with Cajun and Louisianan food, but it has roots that go back further, making it relevant to a wider geographical area. It is a great example of how West African cooking styles spread to the colonies in the South and finally led to some of the most famous dishes in the area.
What national dish is gumbo?
Gumbo (Louisiana Creole: Gum-bo) is a stew popular in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the official state cuisine. Gumbo consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener, and the Creole “holy trinity” – celery, bell peppers, and onions.
Many people think that everything in New Orleans has French effects, but Gumbo tells a different story. Gumbo comes from African culture and has a unique, spicy taste that makes you want to try Southern and Cajun food.
In the 1800s, the slave trade brought a lot of people from West Africa to New Orleans, which is where Gumbo’s story starts. Studies show that West Africans have been making soups with okra for a long time. Over time, these soups turned into the dish we now call “gumbo.”
There are different opinions on where the name “gumbo” comes from. Some historians believe it comes from the African words “kombo” or “ki ngombo,” which both mean “okra.” Some say it has something to do with the French people who live in New Orleans, possibly coming from a word like “un gombeau.”
What are the three types of gumbo?
Creole cooks in Louisiana usually prepare some variation of three basic recipes: a ”Creole gumbo” that includes sausages, beef, veal, ham, chicken, whole crabs or shrimp and is thickened with roux and file powder; a simpler ”okra gumbo” thickened with okra and including a variety of shellfish; and a ”gumbo aux .
There are three main types of Gumbo that I come across: meat gumbo, Gumbo Z’herbs, and seafood gumbo. Green, leafy veggies are what make gumbo Z’herbs. I’ll post the recipe later. Here are two gumbo recipes: one for meat and one for fish. The shrimp gumbo is mostly meant to show you how to make a roux in the oven.
I’m going to give you my recipe for Gumbo Ya-Ya, which is New Orleans-speak for chicken and sausage gumbo. The French Quarter’s Mr. B’s Bistro served Gumbo Ya-Ya as one of its signature dishes when it first opened in 1979, and you can still get it there today. Restaurant menus used to have fish gumbo mostly, but in the 1980s, chicken and sausage gumbo became more popular. This type of Gumbo is darker and thinner than seafood gumbo because it only uses roux as a thickener. Okra and filé, on the other hand, are added to seafood gumbo along with roux to make it thicker.
Instead of just honoring a dish, National Gumbo Day celebrates a culture and past that has had a big effect on the Southern US. This classic dish blends a lot of different tastes and styles to make a unique and enjoyable experience.
If you’ve had Gumbo before or are trying it for the first time, take a moment to enjoy the many flavors, traditions, and history that go into this popular dish.
Not only should you eat the tasty Gumbo on National Gumbo Day, but you should also learn about the cultural importance that has made it an important part of Southern food culture.
