Today, October 12th, is National Gumbo Day.

Gumbo originated in the 18th century in Louisiana. It is a dish based on the cuisines and cooking of many different countries.

The simplest way of describing gumbo would be calling it a spicy fish stew (or soup, depending on its consistency).

Gumbo does not have to be made from seafood, as meat is also used, but the two are not combined in the same dish. A stock base has the meat or fish (including shellfish) added to it, along with seasonings, thickener and vegetables.

Different varieties exist, but some common ingredients are shrimps, crab, peppers, celery and onions, as well as the stock. It is often served with rice.

Image: By Amadscientist (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons