Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut oil, lard, or other vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (see below)
• 1 ham hock, optional
• 10 cups water
• 3 pounds assorted greens (e.g., kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, spinach, chard, parsley, dandelion greens, beet greens), chopped (about 14 cups)
• Salt
• 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, optional
• File powder to taste, optional
• Cajun Spice Blend
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoon sweet paprika