Filé Gumbo

 

2 TBSP Vegetable Shortening

2 TBSP Flour

1 Green pepper finely chopped

2 med onions finely chopped

5 Cups Chicken Broth

6 Medium Tomatoes peeled and chopped

½ Pound Okra cut into ¼ inch pieces

1 ½ TBSP Filé powder (not sure where to get this, it was given to me, it is Ground Sassafras)

¾ Cup uncooked Rice

2 Ribs Celery chopped

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

¼ tsp Thyme

1 bay leaf

1 chicken cooked (or other meat)

 

Cook Shortening and flour making a roux. Stir until golden brown. With roux done add green pepper and onions, cook until translucent. Add Broth, stir until boil. Add all other ingredients except meat and bring back to a boil again. Reduce heat and cover, simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in meat and cook an additional 20 minutes.

 

Substitutions I made:

Used vegetable oil instead of shortening

Left out the thyme, bay leaf, okra and celery. (added 1 tsp of celery seeds)

Added red beans instead of okra

Grilled the meat using generic “Cajun seasoning” (not necessary)
Added Kielbasa Sausage, Shrimp and Chicken instead of just chicken

Added a dash of cayenne pepper powder