A roux is a base that you use for sauces, stews, and more. It is a French creation with a simple formula: heat an equal amount of fat together with flour and you have a thickener good from anything from mac n cheese to gumbo. Within that formula, you have the flexibility about what type of fat you use and for how long to cook it out for. Here are three different types of roux and why each is important in their own way.
White Roux
A white roux is what you would use for bechamel sauce, gravy, cheese sauce, and more. The fat of choice is generally butter and you only have to cook it for about 2-5 minutes to get rid of the raw flour flavor.
Blond Roux
This roux takes a bit longer to cook, about 5-10 minutes, and can be made with any type of fat. The color should take on a caramel tone, and when it’s done, you can use it for sauces like veloute or bisques.
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Dark Brown Roux
This roux will turn out the color of dark chocolate after cooking it for 30-45 minutes. This is the roux you would generally use for meaty gumbos. If you are looking to make a seafood gumbo, dial the cooking back to 15-30 minutes for a medium brown roux.