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Gumbo Filé Sassafras
Sometimes just called filé powder for short, powdered sassafras leaf is a cornerstone ingredient of Cajun cooking, especially classic gumbo. It was originally used by cooks in the Choctaw tribe as a thickener and flavoring. Sassafras root is the basis of root beer, so the powder infuses everything with a similarly earthy, rich flavor, but with a more verdant quality. It should be added to dishes toward the end of cooking.