Plural of gumbo; thick stews or soups from Louisiana and Creole cooking, typically containing okra, meat, and vegetables.
From Bantu languages (possibly 'ki-ngombo') via French and Creole, entering American English from Louisiana's multicultural cooking traditions blending African, French, and Native American influences.
Gumbo represents one of the most important stories in food history—it's a living artifact of the African diaspora, combining West African okra traditions with French technique and whatever meat or seafood was available, making it a flavor of survival and creativity.
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