Filé facts for kids

Filé is a special powdered spice made from the dried leaves of the sassafras tree. It's used in small amounts in cooking, especially in Cajun and Creole cooking from Louisiana, to make dishes thicker and add a unique flavor.

What is Filé Powder?

Filé powder comes from the leaves of the sassafras tree. Sassafras trees grow naturally in eastern North America. To make filé, the leaves are carefully picked, dried, and then ground into a very fine powder. This powder has a unique smell and taste, which some people describe as earthy or slightly citrusy.

How Filé is Used in Cooking

Filé is mostly used as a thickening agent in soups and stews. It's a key ingredient in traditional gumbo, a famous dish from Louisiana. When using filé, it's important to add it at the very end of cooking, after the pot has been taken off the heat. If you add it while the dish is still boiling, it can become stringy.

Filé also adds a special flavor to dishes. It's a big part of the unique tastes found in Cajun and Creole cooking, which are popular styles of food from Louisiana.

History of Filé

The use of filé powder in cooking comes from the Choctaw people, a Native American tribe. They traditionally used sassafras leaves for both cooking and medicine. Over time, this tradition was shared and became an important part of Cajun and Creole food culture in Louisiana.

Images for kids

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  Z'herbes, including hot sauce and filé

See also

In Spanish: Gumbo filé para niños