Shrimp And Vegetable Gumbo - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons salad oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 bay leaf, crumbled
salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth
1/2 lb shrimp, in the shell
1 (10 ounce) package frozen okra, thawed
2 teaspoons gumbo file powder (optional)
3 -4 cups fluffy cooked rice
chopped parsley

Preparation

In hot oil in 6-qt Dutch oven, saute onion, green pepper, celery and garlic, stirring frequently, over medium heat until celery is tender. Add bay leaf, 1/2 tsp salt, the pepper, tomatoes and chicken broth.
Bring to boiling, stirring frequently. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, shell and devein shrimp. Cut in half legthwise.
Cut okra into 1/2\" slices. Add okra to tomato mixture. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Add shrimp; cook, covered, 3 minutes, or until tender. Stir in file.
For each serving, spoon gumbo over 1/2 cup rice in each warm serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley.