Zatarain's Gumbo Base, 4.5 oz Box

This makes making gumbo much easiers. Rouxes can be challenging and having thiis done for you helps. This base is dark andd rich in flavor. I do like to add my own sauted veggies because we like more in ours. Also, I use chicken stock instead of water. Finally, true to Southern customs, I put a scoop of potato salad in the middle.

Zatarain's Gumbo Base – Easy, authentic New Orleans flavor right from the pantry Disclosure: I received this Zatarain's Gumbo Base for free through the BzzAgent program in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own based on actually trying the product. I tried Zatarain's Gumbo Base and really enjoyed it. It made a hearty, flavorful gumbo with very little effort compared to starting a roux from scratch. How it compares to other products I've tried I've made gumbo a few different ways over the years—sometimes from scratch with a homemade roux and sometimes with other seasoning mixes. Making a proper dark roux takes time and attention so it doesn't burn. This base takes most of that work out of the process while still delivering a deep, savory, traditional Louisiana-style flavor. It tasted richer and more authentic than the simpler seasoning packets I've used before, and it was much faster than building everything from flour and oil on the stove. The balance of spices and the included vegetable notes (onion, peppers) gave it a more complete flavor than just a plain seasoning blend. Benefits of owning this product It saves a lot of time and cleanup—no standing over a pot stirring a roux for 20–30 minutes. The flavor is consistent and well-balanced right out of the box. It's versatile: I added smoked sausage and shrimp, but it would work just as well with chicken or other proteins. It stores easily in the pantry and has a long shelf life, so it's handy to have on hand for a quick weeknight dinner or when guests are coming over. Serving it over rice turns it into a complete, satisfying meal with minimal extra ingredients. Would I buy this product? Yes. After trying the free sample, I'd pick it up again at the store when I want gumbo without the full from-scratch process. It's convenient without tasting like a shortcut. Would I recommend it to friends or family? Absolutely. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes New Orleans-style food but doesn't always have the time (or patience) to make a traditional roux. It's an easy way to get solid flavor on the table, and the leftovers reheat well. Quick notes from cooking it I followed the basic stove-top directions, mixed the base with water and a little oil until smooth, simmered it, then added sliced smoked sausage and shrimp near the end. I served it over rice and added a little hot sauce at the table for extra heat. The texture was good (not too thin), the seasoning was well-balanced (savory with a mild kick), and the whole house smelled great while it cooked. It felt like a homemade meal with a fraction of the effort. Overall, this is a solid pantry staple if you enjoy gumbo or want an easy way to bring that flavor home. Five stars from me.

If you love the rich, complex flavors of authentic Louisiana cooking but don't always have the time or energy to stand over a hot stove whisking a traditional roux for an hour, Zatarain's® Gumbo Base (4.5 oz) is an absolute game-changer. It delivers classic Cajun flavor in a fraction of the time, making weeknight gourmet cooking remarkably easy.  Key Highlights & Features Effortless Prep Work: The biggest hurdle to making a traditional gumbo is perfecting the roux without burning it. This base handles that heavy lifting for you, dissolving into a smooth, savory broth foundation with minimal effort.  Authentic Flavor Profile: Formulated with traditional seasonings, spices, and thickeners, it creates a rich, dark gravy with just the right amount of Creole warmth and depth.  Versatile Customization: It serves as a blank canvas for whatever proteins or vegetables you prefer—whether classic smoked sliced sausage, shredded chicken, shrimp, crab, or okra.  Ideal Portioning: The 4.5 oz packet makes a generous pot, perfect for feeding a family dinner or meal prepping for leftover lunches during the week.  Taste and Texture Flavor: Deeply savory, bold, and seasoned with traditional spices. It brings a comfortable level of mild-to-medium heat that pleases most palates without overpowering.  Consistency: The base thickens up smoothly into a velvety stew consistency that holds well over white rice.

This was something I've honestly been meaning to try even before I was offered a sample. I visited New Orleans last year, and we tried gumbo for the first time. I know it would be hard to duplicate that flavor all the way back home in Nj, but this will get you close. It's excellent with shrimp, chicken, and sausage. The steps are easy to follow, and it comes together quickly. I've been buying Zatarain's rice for a long time now, but this will be a new addition to my pantry.

The product wasn't bad don't get me wrong, but it seemed to much list brown gravy, otherwise may need more veggies. It was pretty decent though I definitely had to make some rice on the side, the box never really specified if you should use rice or not but when I looked it up the Internet says it pairs well with rice, which it did.

It called for 6 cups of water but it tasted so concentrated that it was kinda gross. I added 2.5 more cups of water and cajun seasoning and salt to make it taste better. Overall it tuned out good after I added seasoning to it but I make it better from scratch so I'll stick to that.

The Zatarain's Gumbo Base was a hit at my table!! It is rich with deep flavors that gave our shrimp, sausage and vegetables an authentic excellent flavor. It was actually cooked on a shrimp boat! This is like comfort food in a bowl. I will be adding this to the grocery list!!

Zatarain's® sent me this free sample of gumbo base through the BzzAgent sampling program. I made it and added 1 cut up onion (becausemy family loves extra onions), 1 package of cut up beef sausage, a handful of rice and 7 ounces frozen shrimp. This was not spicy and was thicker than normal gumbo mixes. It was delicious and I don't normally like gumbo. My family preferred this thicker version because it had lots more flavor. This is 100% recommended to make gumbo easier and cheaper because you do not need lots of other seasonings. It's all in 1 box!

Firstly, I absolutely loved the flavor of this gumbo. Has a nice light kick to it and I'm a fan of the seasoning. However, I felt there was WAY too much sauce for the 1lb of meat. I put in an entire package of chicken and a handful of shrimp and there was still very little. There was also basically no bell peppers in it. Just a few little specks. The recipe does NOT say to add more veggies besides some okra, I would add WAY more vegetables to bulk it up. Otherwise it is mostly sauce with little meat pieces in it. I would also not add salt, it is salty enough for me.

I tried Zatarain's Gumbo Base, making a Sausage Gumbo, which was one of their suggestions. They also suggested adding fresh okra. I did that, in addition to a few slices of sweet onion. The base was very simple to make with clear instructions, and I loved the suggestion for making the dish have a chunky, flavorful profile. I would prefer a tiny bit less salt, but I think that is my personal preference. It would probably be OK for most people. I would buy this again and would recommend that you purchase it as well. I will now look for their other bases as this one was a hit.