Crab Gumbo - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. cooking oil
1/2 c. flour
1 small onion
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 c. parsley, chopped
6 c. water
1 large can tomatoes
1 pkg. frozen okra (optional)
salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, bay leaves and thyme
2 cans crab meat
1 small jar oysters (optional)
gumbo file

Preparation

In
heavy 8 quart pot make a caramel colored brown roux using 1/2 cup cooking oil and 1/2 cup flour.
Add to the roux, cooking until limp the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic and parsley. Add
6 cups water, can of tomatoes, okra (optional), salt,
black pepper, crushed red pepper, bay leaves and thyme. Simmer for about
1
hour.
If it becomes too thick, add more water.
After 1 hour add 1 pound shrimp, crab meat and oysters (optional).
Simmer 30
minutes
longer.
Add
gumbo file (to taste).
Simmer 10 minutes more.
Serve over rice.