Gumbo

Gumbo, a quintessential Southern dish, encapsulates the region’s diverse culinary heritage and showcases the creativity of its cooks throughout history. This rich and flavorful stew has roots debated between West African and Choctaw influences, evidenced by the etymology of the words “gombo” and “kumbo” in their respective cultures, both referring to ingredients used in gumbo-like stews.

Okra, a key gumbo ingredient, has been a thickening agent in African soups for centuries and found its way to the Americas through enslaved West Africans. Filé powder, another common gumbo component, has Native American origins, with the Choctaw using ground sassafras leaves for seasoning and thickening.