Pasta Gumbo

Photo: flickr user Brett L.

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic crushed

1 cup chopped onion

stk butter

28 ounces whole tomatoes chopped

4 cups water

2 bots clam juice (8 oz ea) I like Doxsee

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon oregano

2 bay leaves

teaspoon hot pepper sauce (or more to taste)

teaspoon garlic powder

teaspoon cayenne pepper (or so)

1 teaspoon cajun seasoning

8 ounces ditalini pasta

1 can okra or 1 box frozen okra (14oz)

8 ounces imitation crab meat

2 cans shrimp (4 oz. each or 8oz cooked shrimp)

8 ounces boned crabmeat

Preparation

In a large pot over medium heat saute garlic and onion in butter until golden, roughly five minutes. Add tomatoes, water, clam juice, salt oregano, bay leaves, hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, cayenne powder, and cajun seasonings. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes. Bring to a boil and gradually add pasta to pot, then reduce to medium and allow pasta to cook until tender, stirring the covered pot occasionally. Stir in remaining ingredients and allow flavors to meld 5 to 10 minutes. Remove bay leaves

Chris says: This is a two fold tradtional recipe in our family. Its either served just before xmas, because it can be made early in the morning, then its reheated for after the shopping is done. We have also served it on Christmas Eve becuase you are not supposed to eat beef, chicken or pork in our family.