I’ve made gumbo several times in my lifetime, but not the real Cajun type with a roux. There is just something intimidating just in the word roux. Not very many people know how to pronounce it and then not very many know what the meaning is. The term is in my high school textbook that I use with my class. It is hilarious to hear students pronounce it. Recently after Katrina we have many students from New Orleans. You should see the looks they give the Southerners from Georgia. Don’t you know anything? A roux? Well, I fall into that category. I have never made a real roux. Yeah, one for macaroni and cheese sauce or for a rich brown gravy, but for a gumbo? NO! My mother never once made gumbo that I can remember. She could make a mean red-eyed gravy and macaroni and cheese to die for, but no New Orleans style roux. I love gumbo and when I recently found a meat market that sells the best Andouille sausage I had to try my hand at it. I must say that a roux is quite easy.
This is an easy Gumbo. You can put it together in less than 30 minutes and let it simmer for 3o minutes. It is better the next day. The flavors have time to develop and the zucchini can thicken the gumbo. That’s right! The squash is a substitute for okra which is usually used in most gumbos. It is hard to find fresh okra in the winter so the zucchini is perfect. For me this soup ranks right up there with 
The Teacher Cooks 