Filé

Filé

Filé (FEE lay) powder, AKA gumbo filé, is ground sassafras leaves. It is mostly used in Cajun and Creole cooking such as gumbo.

It works as a thickener. Okra also helps to thicken gumbo, so when okra is not available, extra filé can be used. I like to put both okra and filé in my gumbos and red beans and rice.