Healthier Gumbo with Flaxseed & Coconut oil

Here is a healthier version of my Gumbo. Using turkey sausage cuts down on the fat.  Using brown rice instead of white adds fiber & also has lower glycemic index. Flaxseed adds fiber and is super heart healthy. Flaxseed has lots of Omega 3's which are anti-inflammatory. And I keep reading & hearing great things about coconut oil. Dr. Oz & lots of others believe that adding 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to your diet everyday reduces belly fat. I've just recently started using the coconut oil, so hope to post more recipes with it later.

 HEALTHIER GUMBO   

 

1 pkg. Turkey smoked sausage (cut in 1/4 in. pieces)

chopped onion 
2-3 tbsp Coconut oil

1 pkg. frozen okra

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can RoTel tomatoes

chopped jalapeno or a couple dashes of hot sauce 

2 cups brown rice
1/4 cup ground flaxseed

chicken broth (about 4 small cans)

shredded cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (2-4 pieces depending on how much chicken you want) OR use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store

Cayenne Pepper or Cajun Seasoning (a few dashes)

Minced garlic (to your taste)

2 handfuls of large thawed frozen shrimp (if desired)

 Place sausage & onion in soup pot with a coconut oil and stir fry a few minutes until sausage is browned & onions are tender. Add chicken broth, rice & flaxseed & bring to a boil for about 10 minutes.  Add tomatoes, okra, chicken and Cayenne Pepper and garlic to taste. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes.  Add more chicken broth if needed, depending on how soupy you want it.

Add a couple of handfuls of large shrimp to the pot the last 5 minutes.  I use thawed frozen shrimp. FYI – if you cook the shrimp too long, it will be rubbery. The frozen shrimp is already cooked, so you just need to incorporate it into your soup.