Both are Creole dishes that are popular New Orleans cuisine. But there are a few differences that will help you discriminate between the two: Jambalaya - A Creole dish with cooked rice, tomatoes, onion, green peppers, and any kind of meat or shellfish. The name is derived from the French word for ham, jambon. Gumbo - Another Creole dish that's thick and stewlike and starts with a dark roux, made of flour and fat, that adds an incomparable rich flavor. It also contains okra, tomatoes, and onions plus one or more meats or shellfish. Both the okra and file powder along with the roux help thicken the stew. The word gumbo is derived from an African term for okra.