Can you use file and okra in gumbo?

Can you use filé and okra in gumbo?

Gumbo can be as thin as soup or as thick as gravy. The proteins might be chicken and crab or sausage and shrimp. The stew might be thickened with okra, with filé (powdered sassafras leaves), with a dark roux (a blend of oil and flour cooked slowly until well browned), or any combination of the three.

Does shrimp need to be cooked before adding to gumbo?

Note: You can do everything in this recipe up to the point of adding the shrimp beforehand; bring gumbo up to a boil before adding shrimp to serve. Cooking the roux can be tricky.

Does okra gumbo need a roux?

Well, no, actually. Gumbo needs at least one of the three standard thickeners: a roux; filé, which is powdered sassafras leaves; and/or yes, okra. This Creole gumbo is a fascinating, wonderful example of a lighter gumbo with no roux.

How do you add okra to gumbo without slime?

A second trick for reducing sliminess is to soak the okra in vinegar for half an hour before cooking it. Rinse it and pat dry before cooking. Finally, you can pre-cook okra at very high heat by sautéing, roasting, blanching, or grilling. Then add cooked okra to your recipe, and there will be hardly any slime at all.

Is it safe to put raw shrimp in gumbo?

Authentic Creole flavors and so easy to make! I used pre-cooked/Cajun-seasoned shrimp which made this gumbo with okra that much easier, but you can just use raw shrimp. Adjust the spice to make it as hot or mild as you’d like.

How do I use a gumbo, filé?

But if you do use filé in gumbo, you have to add it towards the end of the gumbo’s cooking, usually either right before your turn the heat off or just after—or, sometimes, it’s sprinkled only over the eater’s own bowl. “We add it at the very end in my family recipe.

Is Cajun seasoning the same as filé powder?

They won’t quite give you the same flavor as the filé powder you’re leaving out, but they will help make the gumbo more unique to you. You can also try other Cajun seasoning, creole seasoning in your okra gumbo or any other gumbo recipe.

Can you overcook shrimp in gumbo?

For Shrimp & Okra Gumbo and for Seafood Gumbo, maximizing the flavor means simply this: put into the pot only what is necessary to serve. Shrimp and oysters are so delicate. If they are added to the pot and cooked for too long, they get overcooked and become tough and rubbery.

When should I add filé to my gumbo?

What is a good substitute for gumbo filé?

Substitute For File Powder For a thickening substitute you can use okra (typically included in Gumbo). You’ll need about 2 cups to replace 1 tablespoon of file powder. OR – Use cornstarch (lacks the root-beer like flavor).

Is filé necessary in gumbo?

Filé powder is almost as important in a gumbo symbolically as it is for its thickening or flavoring aspects, because of what it represents. Gumbo is the melting pot, the symbolic dish of American history, and is mostly a mixture of West African, Spanish, and French cuisines.