Use this Roux Recipe to make a perfect thickener.

A roux is a cooked mixture of flour and oil, fat or butter that is used to thicken liquids such as soups, stews, sauces - such as the classical Béchamel Sauce and gravies.

You will find many recipes that ask you to thicken a liquid.

This page explains what that means, how to make a roux and how to use it.

Roux is most often made with equal parts of flour and butter, although vegetable oils are used frequently and cooking fats from bacon or meats are often used for gravies.

The mixture is cooked by heating (melting) the fat and then adding an equivalent amount of flour while stirring constantly over heat in a pot or pan until the raw flour taste no longer exists. This process results in a thickening and flavoring agent we call "roux."

The roux can be white (light) in color or blond or varying shades of brown to almost (but not) black, depending on how long it is cooked (the longer it is cooked, the darker the color) and its intended use.

Making a light mixture is simple, but there is a danger of burning a dark one, especially if it is attempted over high heat. Darker ones are often made with vegetable oil or peanut oil in an effort to reduce the risk of burning.

A Darker roux adds a nutty or smoky flavor to a dish and are used in Cajun and Creole cuisine for gumbos and stews. The darker the mixture, the less thickening power it has.

This fat and flour mixture must be stirred constantly to avoid burning. When you're stirring your roux, DO NOT splatter any on you. It's very hot, and will stick to you. If you see black specks in your roux, it's burned. Throw it out and start over.

A properly made roux should be stiff, not runny or pourable.

The recipe below will give you a white roux and you can store the unused roux in a covered container in your refrigerator for several weeks to use for other dishes.

White (Or Light) Roux Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 pound whole butter

1 pound flour (4 cups)

Instructions:

Melt butter over low to medium heat

Add equal amount of flour (by weight) while stirring constantly until butter (fat) and flour are thoroughly mixed

Cook the roux over moderate heat stirring constantly until raw flour taste is cooked out

That's all there is to making a light (white) roux recipe.

How do you add roux to thicken a soup or stew or sauce?

To Add The Roux To A Liquid:

Bring the liquid to a simmer in a heavy pot

Add a small quantity of roux and beat vigorously with a whip to break up all the lumps

Continue to beat small quantities of roux into the simmering liquid until the desired consistency (thickness) is reached. Remember that the roux must simmer for a time to thicken completely so DO NOT add the roux too quickly or you may over-thicken the liquid

Continue to simmer the liquid until the roux is cooked out and there is no starch taste

Note: If the liquid is to simmer for a long time, under thicken it because the liquid will thicken as it reduces from cooking.

For One Gallon of Soup, Stew or Sauce?

Thin Or Light

6 ounces butter

6 ounces flour

Makes 12 ounces roux

Medium

8 ounces butter

8 ounces flour

Makes 1 pound roux

Thick Or Heavy

12 ounces butter

12 ounces flour

Makes 1 1/2 pounds of roux

Now you have a roux recipe and you know what you need to be able to thicken your soups, stews and sauces like the chef you are!