What is Gumbo filé powder?

[mugsy27]

hey gang!!

a few days ago, someone here posted a recipie for jambalaya, and now i cant seem to find it.

i printed the recipie and went to the store today to get the goodies, but im lost on 2 things.

no one at the store had ever heard of gumbo file pwdr. what is it and whats in it? can i skip this or make it out of other ingrediends??

it also calls for *converted* rice. what is that? i just bought a bag of medium grain enriched rice...can i use that?

TIA!!!!

[Andy M.]

Gumbo file' powder is ground dry sassafras leaves. It flavors and thickens. You could skip it.

Converted rice is what Uncle Ben's is. You can use regular long grain rice but i'm a little leary of the medium grain. It will give off a lot of starch. It's what;s used for risotto. The starch from this rice may replace the thickening power of the file'.

[mudbug]

You can make jambalaya without the file powder (I always do cuz I don't like the taste), but it is more authentic to include it.

[callie]

mugsy, in most markets the file powder is with the dried spices. I like to top my bowl of gumbo off with some file - but a little bit goes a long way!

[Uncle Bob]

I love file. I use sto-bought and home ground. I even make a file gumbo! Yeah buddy! In jambalaya I can take or leave it. Sometimes I reach for it, sometimes not. Sometimes I just reach for the bourbon instead

[StirBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugsy27 hey gang!! a few days ago, someone here posted a recipie for jambalaya, and now i cant seem to find it. i printed the recipie and went to the store today to get the goodies, but im lost on 2 things. no one at the store had ever heard of gumbo file pwdr. what is it and whats in it? can i skip this or make it out of other ingrediends?? it also calls for *converted* rice. what is that? i just bought a bag of medium grain enriched rice...can i use that? TIA!!!!

Sierracook posted the recipe:

Jambalaya ( 1 2 3)
SierraCook

[mugsy27]

as always...u are all amazing!! ty! jambalaya is underway (minus the file, and after a quick run back to the store..and nice long grain rice)!!

[Constance]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob I love file. I use sto-bought and home ground. I even make a file gumbo! Yeah buddy! In jambalaya I can take or leave it. Sometimes I reach for it, sometimes not. Sometimes I just reach for the bourbon instead

I love the file...to me, it's not gumbo without it. But, as y'all say, a tiny pinch in your bowl is all it takes.

Uncle Bob, I have sassafras trees on my property. How do you make your home ground?

[Aurora]

Most grocery stores have ethnic foods departments these days and for some reason consider filé powder an ethnic food. Spices in the ethnic foods departments are many times packed in plastic pouches and are cheaper than the brand names such as McCormick or Tone's.

As for the rice, I too like converted rice, but long grain also works very nicely. As was already mentioned, medium grain rice is a bit too starchy.

[Uncle Bob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Constance I love the file...to me, it's not gumbo without it. But, as y'all say, a tiny pinch in your bowl is all it takes. Uncle Bob, I have sassafras trees on my property. How do you make your home ground?

Miss Connie..

I have "harvested" leaves in the fall of the year and dried them over winter. Removed the stems and ground them in a coffee/spice mill. Obviously I cannot achieve the same fineness as commercial products. It works well for flavor but does not have the same thickening characteristics.