# Gumbo! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584 "2011-12-28T01:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/1 "2011-12-28T01:58:30Z")
So, yesterday I boiled down some chicken thighs to make enchiladas. Hitherto I had been using chicken breast; but recently my son and I had lunch at a local Mexican restaurant generally acknowledged to be Awesome, and I realized that they used thigh meat in their enchiladas verdes. What a difference! So anyway, the broth from boiling the thighs was sooo good that my friend jokingly suggested that I save it, “to make gumbo.” –Little did he know! A great big light bulb went on over my head. **"GUMBO?! HELL YEAH!"** So I went out today, and got me some okra and some shrimp. OMFG! I just want to thank the universe in general, and the Cajun/Creole Gods in particular, for the notion of Gumbo. I mean, God-_damn!_ ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/2 "2011-12-28T10:13:50Z")
The rule of thumb in MY Cajun family is: The cheaper the cut of meat, the better!! Especially when it comes to gumbo or steak and gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/3 "2011-12-28T10:55:31Z")
I WANT GUMBO!!! It’s not even 6 am while I write this, and you’ve mentioned a foodstuff unavailable around here. I’m very sad ☹ I “could” make it from scratch, but I’m a lousy cook. And where in hell can I find SASSAFRAS??? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/4 "2011-12-28T11:04:16Z")
My wife makes kosher gumbo - no seafood, no pork - and you know what? It still tastes great. Such is the power of gumbo. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/5 "2011-12-28T15:39:41Z")
> [@Atomic\_Mama](#): > > I “could” make it from scratch, but I’m a lousy cook. And where in hell can I find SASSAFRAS??? I don’t know if you know this but [filé powder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil%C3%A9_powder), which is dried sassafras, is what you want to look for. Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve never had a problem finding it. Mmm, gumbo. I haven’t made any in quite a while, I might have to do that this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/6 "2011-12-28T16:37:26Z")
Is it a [rad gumbo?](http://music.yahoo.com/videos/Little+Feat/Rad+Gumbo--2170049) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/7 "2011-12-28T17:48:33Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > I don’t know if you know this but [filé powder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil%C3%A9_powder), which is dried sassafras, is what you want to look for. Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve never had a problem finding it. > > Mmm, gumbo. I haven’t made any in quite a while, I might have to do that this weekend. File powder, as I understand, is meant as a thickening agent if you are making your gumbo without okra. ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/8 "2011-12-28T18:34:42Z")
Right you are, BrainGlutton. I make a kosher jambalaya as well as kosher gumbo. It’s so easy now that turkey sausage is available. Just throw in some chicken as your other meat and you’re good to go. If only I could find beef tasso (yes, there is such a thing). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/9 "2011-12-28T18:49:10Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > … So anyway, the broth from boiling the thighs was sooo good that my friend jokingly suggested that I save it, “to make gumbo.” … Always, always save the broth when you boil [del]chicken[/del] pretty much any meat. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/10 "2011-12-29T02:28:04Z")
Not to threadjack; but I’m curious as to how many people use whole chicken pieces (bones and all) when making chicken and sausage gumbo? To me, leaving the bone in really puts it over the top. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/11 "2011-12-29T02:46:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > File powder, as I understand, is meant as a thickening agent if you are making your gumbo without okra. Correct. And that is the only way to make gumbo. Zatarains sells a file powder. It’s probably available in major grocery chains. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gumbo/607584/12 "2011-12-29T03:56:53Z")
My dad is bringing a pot of duck gumbo to the family get-together this Friday. the recipe, which he got from his ex-brother-in-law (a Louisiana coon-ass), ends with the line, _Add squirrel to taste._