Ingredients

  • 5 to 6 ducks
  • 2 large yellow onions, diced
  • 2 large bell peppers, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Water, to cover the ducks
  • 1/2 pound bacon
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil (if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • Reserved duck broth
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mango-tamarind spicy Jamaican pepper sauce (recommended: Pick-a-Peppa brand)
  • 1 large package smoked pork sausage, diced and browned
  • Reserved chopped duck meat
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped reserved bacon
  • 1 package frozen okra, cooked to package directions, drained
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, cut into small pieces
  • 2 tablespoons gumbo file
  • White rice and French bread, as accompaniment

Method

  • To a large stockpot, add the ducks, onions, bell peppers, garlic, bouillon, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and enough water to cover the ducks.
  • Bring to a boil and cook the ducks for about 1 hour, until tender.
  • Remove ducks and pull the breast meat from the bones and chop them into small pieces - use only the breast meat and discard the rest of the bird or save for another use.
  • Strain the broth and save.
  • Set aside the chopped duck breast and broth to use later.
  • Roux:
  • In a large, deep, black skillet or kettle, fry the bacon.
  • Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the grease in the pan.
  • To the hot bacon grease, slowly add the flour, if the mixture is of a paste consistency, add more bacon grease or oil until it's loose and easy to stir.
  • Stirring constantly, flour-grease mixture should cook on medium heat until a dark caramel color is obtained.
  • Add the salt and pepper and stir.
  • As soon as the salt and pepper are stirred into the roux, add the remaining ingredients to make the gumbo.
  • To the hot roux, add broth, then the onions, peppers and tomatoes.
  • Add the seasonings.
  • Then add sausage, duck, bacon pieces and okra.
  • Next add the shrimp, cook until shrimp is pink.
  • Finally, add the gumbo file and stir.
  • Let gumbo simmer for about 1 hour.
  • The longer it simmers, the better it gets.
  • Serve over white rice with hot French bread