| 2 | qt | Beef stock or canned beef broth |
| 1 | c | Smoked ham; chopped |
| 2 | | Bay leaves |
| 2 | tb | Crushed red pepper; flaked |
| 1 | tb | Salt |
| 1/3 | c | Bacon drippings |
| 1/3 | c | All-purpose flour |
| 3 | tb | Vegetable oil |
| 3 | c | Okra; frozen, chopped or fresh |
| 2 | lg | Onion; chopped |
| 1 | | Green bell pepper; cored, seeded; minced |
| 2 | | Stalks celery; chopped |
| 2 | | Cloves garlic; minced |
| 1 | cn | (16-oz) whole tomatoes |
| 1/4 | c | Catsup |
| 1 | tb | Hot pepper sauce |
| 1 | tb | Worcestershire sauce |
| 1/2 | ts | Dried thyme |
| 1 | lb | Shrimp |
| 1 | lb | Crab meat -or- |
| 6 | | Hard-shell crabs; cooked and cleaned |
| 1 | bn | Scallions; chopped |
| 12 | | Oysters; shucked, with liquid |
| 1 | c | Cooked rice; plus more for serving |
| 1 | tb | Gumbo file |
