“Gumbo often has a pronounced okra flavor or is thickened with filé powder, adding complexity to its profile.” Étouffée and ...

Many times, my husband has asked, “Where is the real food?” (Also known as snacks!) The other day I was using up excess end-of-the-season garden goodies to make gumbo and out came the file powder.

But to make proper filé gumbo, you must include at least two things: okra and filé powder, or ground dried sassafras leaves. The former is widely available and uncontroversial; the latter ...

(Also known as snacks!) The other day I was using up excess end-of-the-season garden goodies to make gumbo and out came the file powder. This thickening agent comes to us via the American ...

“Filé powder (or gumbo filé) is made from the dried and ground leaves of the sassafras tree. Native American Choctaw Indians were the first to use this spice as a seasoning. Filé is derived ...