What is it?

Filé (pronounced “FEE-lay”) powder is the ground, dried leaves of the sassafras tree. A traditional ingredient in the cuisines of Louisiana, it smells like eucalyptus and adds an earthy flavor. It’s not merely a spice; filé also thickens gumbos and other soups. Filé can turn stringy when added to boiling liquid, so be sure to add it only when you’re about to serve your gumbo (and if you’re making the gumbo ahead, don’t add the filé until after you’ve reheated it).

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Gumbo Ya Ya

  Bone-in chicken gives the stew more flavor; the meat becomes so tender that it falls from the bone. If, however, you don’t feel like fishing out the bones later, you…