Seafood and Okra Gumbo Soup

Ingredients:

• 900 g small okra fruits (cut off the top and bottom ends and cut into 0.5 cm thick slices)
• 225g diced firm-fleshed fish (such as sea bass, golden perch or monkfish)
• 225 g medium-sized peeled and deveined shrimp
• 450 g of cleaned crayfish tails
• 225 g of fresh crab meat, peeled from shell and cartilage, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• Creole seasoning (see recipe below)
• 2 liters of fish broth
• Sassafras powder (ground dried leaves of the sassafras shrub) to taste
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions (green parts only)
• A little hot sauce
• 4 cups cooked warm long-grain white rice

Creole Seasoning:

• 2.5 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. black pepper
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp. l. dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried thyme

Preparation:

1. Place a large saucepan over medium heat and pour in the oil. When the oil is hot, add the okra. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Cook the okra, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes, until most of the slime has disappeared.
   
   Add the onion, celery, pepper, and tomatoes. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 18-20 minutes, until the okra and other vegetables are tender and the slime has completely disappeared.
2. Add the garlic and bay leaves. Season the diced fish with aromatic essence. Add the fish to the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Add the fish broth. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the shrimp and crayfish with Creole essence. Place the seasoned seafood and crabmeat in the pan. Add the fillet powder and continue simmering for 5 minutes.
   
   Add green onions and hot sauce. Remove the bay leaves and serve with rice.
   
   Creole Seasoning: Mix all ingredients thoroughly.