Keto Slow Cooker Gumbo
Did you know you can create an amazing Keto gumbo in a slow cooker? Our gumbo is made using chicken stock and the Creole “holy trinity,” of celery, bell peppers, and white onions. The stew is studded with okra, shrimp, and slices of spicy kielbasa sausage. The mixture is seasoned with garlic, parsley, and Cajun seasoning. Most gumbo is thickened using a dark roux made from wheat flour. Instead, we thickened our Keto gumbo with the addition of okra and some arrowroot powder to keep it low carb. The slow cooker is the perfect cooking vessel for this stew because it cooks the ingredients slowly, rendering the shrimp tender and succulent.
How to Make It
Step 1
Remove the stem of the bell pepper while leaving the seeds in the center intact. Discard the seeds. Dice the bell pepper into a small dice. Peel and halve the onion. Dice this in a fine dice as well. Trim the celery stalks and dice these into a similar size as the other vegetables. Add these to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step 2
Add minced garlic, chopped parsley, the Cajun seasoning, bay leaf, and okra. Feel free to use fresh okra if that is available, but using frozen as we have done here is fine too.
Step 3
Add in the shrimp. Leaving the shrimp frozen helps to protect the shrimp from a long cook time. Add in the slices of kielbasa. Try to slice them thin, so they are in bite-sized pieces. Add the can of diced tomatoes. You can use canned diced tomatoes and chilies to add flavor and heat. Add in the chicken broth and arrowroot powder. Use a whisk to quickly incorporate the powder to avoid clumps.
Step 4
Set the slow cooker for 4 hours on high heat. Once the time has passed, whisk again. Taste and adjust adding any salt or pepper as needed.
Step 5
Some sausages are salty so don’t be surprised if you do not need to add any salt. Serve hot! Top with chopped parsley as desired.
Ingredients
- green bell pepper
0.5 medium – 2 1/2″ diameter x 2 3/4″
- White onion
1 small
- Celery
3 medium – stalk – 7 1/2″ to 8″ long
- Garlic
5 clove
- Parsley
2 tbsp, chopped
- Creole Seasoning
2 tsp
- Bay Leaf
1 leaf
- Okra
6 oz
- Shrimp
1 lb
- Kielbasa
5 oz
- Chicken broth
1 qt
- Canned Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
10 oz
- Arrowroot powder
2 tbsp
- Fresh Parsley (for flavoring only)
1 tbsp