Chicken gumbo isn’t just a dish—it’s a whole experience. Born from the heart of Cajun cuisine, this iconic Louisiana staple is something between a stew and a soup, brimming with juicy ...

When it comes to Southern comfort food, nothing warms the soul quite like a bowl of Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. It’s rich, smoky, hearty, and layered with bold Louisiana flavor.

No need to take our word for it, however, because you can order Kinchs cajun-style gumbo at the Bywater, his New Orleansinspired casual spot in Los Gatos. Or you can just make it yourself.

Makes about 2 to 3 quarts (or enough for 1 gumbo). For the gumbo: Combine oil and flour in a heavy-bottomed cast-iron pot or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven.

Looking more broadly at Cajun and Creole foods as categories, The Gregory, a restaurant in Baton Rouge, sheds some light that may help explain gumbo’s modern-day differences.