11 Incredible Substitutes for Gumbo Filé

Which ingredient can you use as a gumbo file substitute? Gumbo file is an indispensable component in creating consistency for soups, stews, gumbo, and various recipes. Hence, you need to know another option to replace when running out of powder files.

The options you are looking for have been compiled into a complete list. Besides, the information about flavor, usage, and substitution ratio is presented in the most detailed way. You should save them right away.

A Quick Look At The Gumbo File

Gumbo file is the product of dried and ground sassafras trees. File powder is another name for gumbo files ⁽¹⁾ . Powder files are commonly used in cooking, especially when making gumbo.

The leaves of the sassafras plant undergo a long research process before being put to use. The main effect of gumbo files is to create a thickness for dishes. Recipes of European, Africa, and American cuisines often contain gumbo files.

Regarding the flavor of the gumbo file, the typical root beer flavor will help you quickly recognize gumbo files in dishes. Its earthy taste will make you think of a combination of salty and thyme. The smell of it resembles juicy fruit gum.

Gumbo files appear in many recipes. It is almost commonly used in soups, stews, and gumbo. In Louisiana cuisine, gumbo file is often combined with seafood, meat, onions, peppers, herbs, and tomatoes to create a wonderful traditional recipe.

It Is Time To Choose A Substitute For Gumbo File

A list of alternatives and helpful information related to them will appear in this section. You should carefully study the characteristics of each replacement to get a satisfactory choice. Let’s take a look at them!

Alternatives To Gumbo File	Proportions
Roux	3 to 6 ounces of roux for 1 quart of gumbo
Cornstarch	1 tablespoon of cornstarch + 1 tablespoon of water for 1 cup of gumbo stew 1 tablespoon of cornstarch + ½ to ¾ cup of water for 1 cup of gumbo stew
Rice Flour	Depending on your taste buds
Okra	2 cups of slices okra = 1 tablespoon of gumbo file
Root Beer	Depending on your preferences
Gluten-Free Flour	Add a bit of gluten-free flour, and raise if needed
Eggplant	Depending on the recipe’s requirement
Arrowroot Powder	1 tablespoons of arrowroot powder + 1 tablespoons of water for 1 cup of gumbo stew
Tapioca Flour	Depending on the thickness that you need
Tomato Paste	Add a small amount and increase if required
Nopales (Nopal Leaves)	Depending on your preferences

1. Roux – An Alternative Comes From French Cuisine

French cuisine will give you an excellent alternative to the gumbo file, which is the roux. You simply cook 1 part wheat flour with 1 part butter, and you have got roux to add to your recipes. The taste of roux is pretty rich and attractive.

When you taste the roux, you might think of the campfire coffee flavor and a bit of tobacco. It will bring discernible and nutty tastes to dishes. Roux plays an essential role in creating gumbo flavor, so it will be a good substitute for gumbo files.

The texture of this replacement is pretty thick, and it will give a creamy and smooth texture to the dishes. The color of the roux is dark, and the longer you cook it, the darker its color becomes. Roux in a medium brown color works best.

It is perfect to use roux in soups, stews, sauces, and gravy instead of gumbo files. To thicken 1 quart of gumbo, you should use 3 to 6 ounces of roux. If you want to thicken the dish, you can use more roux.

You should make roux at home to add to gumbo. Let’s try now!

2. Cornstarch – Neutral Flavor Replacement

It is fantastic to have cornstarch when you run out of gumbo files. This is an ingredient that will make dishes memorable and attractive. It will give the dish the same texture as the gumbo file creates.

The mild and neutral taste of cornstarch can be combined perfectly with a variety of recipes. Both savory and sweet dishes can add cornstarch. Soups are a recipe that always requires it to create a thick and silky texture.

Alternatively, you can add this alternative to sauces, pies, casseroles, and gravy. For 1 cup of gumbo stew, you need to use a mixture of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water to achieve the perfect consistency.

If you want a slighter texture, you can combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with ½ or ¾ cup of water to thicken 1 cup of gumbo stew.

If you only use cornstarch, the dish will not have the earthy flavor of gumbo files. Therefore, you should combine it with root beer to bring an earthy and hearty taste to the plate. It should be added to the last step of the cooking process.

3. Rice Flour – Non-Flavor Substitute

Rice flour is an adequate replacement for soups. Rice flour is a common ingredient in Japanese dishes. If you have no other option, rice flour will be the most likely choice for you to substitute gumbo files.

Generally, it is complicated to determine the exact and specific taste of rice flour because it has a neutral flavor. So you do not need to worry about the taste of other ingredients being affected.

Its color varies from white to brown. The brand content directly affects its color.  You should not use rice flour as a substitute for gumbo files to make gumbo and stews. You should only use it when you need to thicken soups.

It is straightforward to make rice flour to use without the gumbo file.

4. Okra – Different Taste Replacement

Okra will bring consistency to your dish. You can use it instead of the powder file because of the similarity in texture. I would not recommend using okra if you care about taste because it does not taste like a gumbo file.

Okra is a long finger-like fruit with green skin and many small seeds inside. It is native to Ethiopia and is commonly used in Indian and African cuisines. You will find grassy flavor and sweetness when chewing okra.

The slimy, juicy, crispy, and creamy texture of okra gives a thick consistency to gumbo, stews, and soups. You can also fry, grill, or fry for a variety of recipes. You should add the okra a few minutes before stopping cooking so that the okra is tender.

You should substitute 2 cups of sliced okra for 1 tablespoon of gumbo file. Okra will add many minerals and vitamins to your body. It helps improve immune function, fight inflammation, and prevent diseases.

5. Root Beer – Idea Alternative For Gumbo File

Root beer is a perfect substitute in terms of taste, but its texture is a bit lacking. Root beer is used familiarly in North America. Its flavor is especially suitable for many recipes, from savory to sweet dishes.

Compared to other beers, the flavor of root beer is entirely different. The characteristic sweetness is what makes root beer valuable. You will enjoy the taste of sassafras and a bit of mint taste because it is made from the roots of a sassafras plant.

Root beer will not give the dish the same perfect flavor as using gumbo file, but it will give the dish the closest taste without the powder file. Because root beer does not create a thick consistency, you should combine it with cornstarch for a thick texture.

When root beer is added, desserts, chicken wings, and gumbo will taste similar when using gumbo files. Also, you should try marinating the barbecue with root beer. You should try using other liquids instead of root beer.

6. Gluten-Free Flour – Bring The Same Texture As File Powder

You can use gluten-free flour when you have nothing to add to soups, stews, and gumbo for thickening. This is a convenient replacement because you can buy gluten-free flour at many stores. You can find many kinds of gluten-free flour in the market.

The mild taste of gluten-free flour will not affect the flavor of other ingredients. Gluten-free flour is a favorite component in baking. Gluten-free flour will create a perfect texture for dishes when replacing gumbo files.

You can use gluten-free flour to create roux to use in gumbo and stew. The flavor of the dish will be more robust if the cooking time with gluten-free flour is long. Therefore, you can manually adjust the cooking time and amount of gluten-free flour to your liking.

Let’s explore all the beautiful things about 6 ordinary gluten-free flour.

7. Eggplant – Popular Ingredient In Cooking

Eggplant is a vegetable that you can use as a substitute for gumbo files. Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family with various colors and sizes. This vegetable is incorporated in many recipes to add more flavor.

Summer is the most intense time for eggplant growth. Mild flavor, a little bitter, and a sweet taste are typical features of eggplant. Alternatively, you will often get the tangy and spicy taste of eggplant. With a variety of flavors, eggplant will elevate your dish.

Its texture is similar to okra, but its creaminess will be higher. Its porous texture will absorb spices and liquids quickly. Therefore, you should cook it for a short time so that it does not get soft.

Spice up the pieces of eggplant and roast. You should brush with vegetable oil or larb during the roasting process. Before adding to the dish, you should blend the eggplant. Let’s use eggplant at the final stage.

You should opt for small eggplants for a sweeter flavor and tender texture. For the best results, you need to cut the eggplant into pieces. You should replace gumbo files with eggplant in soups, salads, stews, gumbo, and frittatas.

8. Arrowroot Powder – Unconvincing Gumbo File Substitute

Arrowroot powder is gluten-free flour. It is a top choice for thickening dishes. The main components that make up arrowroot powder are arrowroot starch and cassava. The consistency of the plate will be the same as when using file powder.

The frozen arrowroot powder will bring a perfect consistency and flavor. You can hardly find any special flavor from arrowroot powder. Therefore, the taste of other ingredients will not be affected when accompanied by arrowroot powder.

Its neutral taste pairs well with soups, sauces, stews, and gravies. These dishes will achieve the perfect consistency. Besides, it is used to make pancakes, pie fillings, and custard or toppings fried dishes.

For the best quality, you should combine 1 tablespoon of water with 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder to thicken 1 cup of gumbo stew. Cooking at moderate heat for a short time will bring out the perfect consistency.

9. Tapioca Flour – Another Type Of Flour

If you cannot find other types of flour, you can use tapioca flour instead of a gumbo file. Tapioca flour is a combination of cassava roots in dried and ground forms. Tapioca flour is added to many Indian and African recipes to thicken them.

The flavor of tapioca flour is mild with a slight sweetness, so it is safe for you to combine it with any other ingredients without changing the taste of the plates. The primary mission of tapioca flour is to create consistency in the recipes.

It is possible to replace tapioca flour for file powder in soups, sauces, and gravies. You will get the consistency that you wish. However, it is a bad choice if you use it to substitute gumbo powder in making gumbo.

You need to remember the instructions to make tapioca flour.

10. Tomato Paste – Eye-Catching Red Color Component

Tomato paste is an essential component of gumbo, so it is perfect for replacing file powder with tomato paste. Furthermore, soups and stews need tomato paste to create consistency for them.

Almost all dishes that have tomato paste bring out a rich and meaty flavor. Moreover, you can find a hint of acidic flour in tomato paste. The eye-catchy red color of tomato paste will be an expected complement for your recipes.

The tomato paste will create an excellent thickness when you cook at low heat for a long time. The good news is that you can purchase tomato paste at every supermarket. Furthermore, you can create tomato paste at home with basic steps.

11. Nopal Leaves (Nopales) – An Alternative With Thorns

Nopales is a type of cactus leaf that you can use as an alternative to gumbo files. This is a common ingredient in Mexican dishes ⁽²⁾ . Nopal leaves thrive in spring. Nowadays, you can easily buy them because they are pretty popular.

Its flavor is mild and fresh, and has a hint of tartness. You should buy nopales that are dark green with a hard, crunchy, mucilaginous, and dense texture to use. Nopales are often added to soups, stews, salads, and gumbo to thicken dishes.

There are many processing methods with nopales. You can thinly slice or dice them. In addition, nopales are sold dried or canned in many stores. When cooking with nopales, you need to spend a little time prepping to peel the nopales’ skin. Add them at the final step.

It is necessary to prepare nopal leaves before cooking. Follow the steps now!

Expand Your Menu With Yummy Gumbo File Recipes

Gumbo files are added to various recipes to give them consistency. I will enrich your menu by providing fantastic recipes with gumbo files. Let’s learn to cook them right now.

1. Seafood Gumbo

Gumbo file combined with seafood will create a harmonious taste. You will feel the natural sweetness of shrimp, crab meat, and oysters. Gumbo file will create a moderate consistency for the recipe. In addition, herbs will bring aroma to the dish.

2. Smoked Turkey And File Gumbo

Smoked turkey and file gumbo is a dish consisting of meat and seafood. To get this amazing dish, you have to simmer turkey and oysters with gumbo file and other ingredients for more than 1 hour. Tender pieces of turkey will appeal to you.

3. Chicken Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Chicken andouille sausage gumbo is a famous recipe of New Orleans cuisine. The aroma of vegetables makes this dish unique. Chicken that is simmered for a long time will become tender and flavorful. The texture of the dish is perfect with gumbo file.

4. Shrimp Gumbo

The combination of shrimp and gumbo file brings many culinary masterpieces. Shrimp gumbo after a long stewing time will have a great consistency. You will enjoy the natural and authentic sweetness of shrimp in this mouthwatering dish.

FAQs

You should not ignore questions about gumbo file substitutes. These questions are common issues asked by many people. Learning the answers to these questions will add a huge amount of new knowledge to you.

Write Other Substitutes Down If You Know

Do you know any other alternatives? If you do, please list them via comments. The replacements that I have shown you are all optimal options, so you can use them with confidence. They will do wonders for your dishes.

Do not waste time trying each alternative; read the uses and characteristics carefully to make more accessible choices. One like and share from you will inspire me in the following posts. Thanks for your time!

References

1. En.wikipedia.org.. Filé powder – Wikipedia.
2. En.wikipedia.org.. Nopal – Wikipedia.