1 Filé powder can be used to thicken the gumbo in place of okra. Simply sprinkle 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (or more) of the powder into the finished gumbo at the end of cooking to thicken. Filé is ground sassafras leaves and can be found in the spice section of many grocery stores or online. Just be cautious about using too much filé, as it can make the gumbo stringy.
2 simmer a whole chicken with some celery, onions, garlic, and use that shredded meat and the resulting stock for this recipe. Shredded rotisserie chicken and boxed broth work, too.
