Gumbo

Gumbo is a stew or soup originating in Louisiana which is popular across the Gulf Coast of the United States and into the U.S. South. It consists primarily of a strong stock, meat or shellfish, a thickener, and the vegetable "holy trinity" of celery, bell peppers, and onion. Traditionally, one of the key ingredients has been okra, the African plant okingumbo, from which the dish originally took its name. However, today gumbo has evolved to the point where it is often made without the inclusion of okra.

Gumbo is traditionally served over rice. There is also a traditional meatless lenten variety called gumbo z'herbes (from the French gumbo aux herbes, pronounced /ˈɡʌmboʊ ˈʒɛərb/ GUM-boh-zhairb), essentially a gumbo of slow-cooked greens sometimes thickened with roux