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Vegan gumbo in a black bowl with a spoon.
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5 from 39 votes

Vegan Gumbo

Fabulously hearty vegan gumbo with loads of flavor from a rich vegan roux and tons of veggies. Savory and delicious comfort food!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan
Servings: 4
Calories: 494kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Vegan Butter (112g)
  • cup All Purpose Flour (83g)
  • 2 Medium Green Bell Peppers Finely chopped
  • 2 Celery Stalks Finely chopped
  • 1 Medium Onion White, Yellow or Brown, Finely chopped
  • 2 cups Vegetable Stock (480ml)
  • 1 cup Mixed Frozen Vegetables
  • 1 Medium Head of Cauliflower chopped into florets
  • 5 cups Cremini Mushrooms (480g) Sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon Crushed Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Liquid Smoke
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 14 ounce Can Chopped Tomato (400g)
  • 15 ounce Can Kidney Beans Drained
  • Salt and Pepper To Taste

For Serving:

Instructions

  • Add the vegan butter to a heavy bottomed pot and let it melt over medium heat. Add in the all purpose flour and stir it into a paste. 
  • Keep stirring and over the course of about 20 minutes (if you're on high heat) and around an hour on low to medium heat, you'll watch the roux change, from a thick paste into a thin sauce and the color will gradually change until you eventually reach a milk chocolate color which indicates that your roux is perfectly done. A high quality heavy bottomed pot will be ideal especially if you choose the high heat fast route. If you have a concern that it may burn in your pot then rather take the slow and steady approach. The end result will be worth it. 
  • If you burn the roux, you have to start again. So be very careful. Unfortunately once burnt that roux can't be salvaged and it will have to be redone. 
  • When your roux reaches the milk chocolate stage, then add in the green bell pepper, celery and onion, called the 'Holy Trinity' of veggies. Add to your roux and mix in and cook until the veggies are softened. 
  • Add the vegetable stock and stir in. 
  • Add frozen veg, cauliflower florets, mushrooms, garlic, cajun seasoning, liquid smoke and a bay leaf. Stir this in. 
  • Add the chopped tomatoes and kidney beans and stir in. Bring it all to a simmer, cover the pot and leave it to simmer until everything is cooked and fragrant. 
  • Add salt and pepper to taste. 
  • Serve with basmati rice (optional) with some chopped spring onions on top.

Notes

  1. Vegan butter can be subbed for oil but vegan butter is recommended.
  2. If you can get okra then you can swap the mixed frozen veg for 1 cup of fresh or frozen okra.
  3. Cremini mushrooms are also called baby bella or portobellini. You can also swap these for white button mushrooms.
  4. Spring onions are also called green onions or salad onions or scallions.
  5. Cook time presumes only 20 minutes is spent on the roux.
  6. Nutritional information is for gumbo only and does not include rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serve | Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 16.3g | Fat: 24.2g | Saturated Fat: 6.5g | Sodium: 951mg | Fiber: 12.1g | Sugar: 14g