Roux

Total Time
20 minutes

Ratios

flour	fat
3	2

Note

At home, and especially for small amounts, equal parts of flour and whole butter by weight can be used.

Thickening

Liquid	Roux
10	1

Ingredients

Roux Type	Sauce Consistency	Clarified Butter	All-Purpose Flour	Liquid	Time
White	Light	1.5 Tbsp	1.5 Tbsp	4 cups	3-5 minutes
White	Medium	2 Tbsp	2 Tbsp	4 cups	3-5 minutes
White	Heavy	3 Tbsp	3 Tbsp	4 cups	3-5 minutes
Blond	Light	1.5 Tbsp	1.5 Tbsp	4 cups	6-7 minutes
Blond	Medium	2 Tbsp	2 Tbsp	4 cups	6-7 minutes
Blond	Heavy	3 Tbsp	3 Tbsp	4 cups	6-7 minutes
Brown	Light	1.5 Tbsp	1.5 Tbsp	4 cups	15-20 minutes
Brown	Medium	2 Tbsp	2 Tbsp	4 cups	15-20 minutes
Brown	Heavy	3 Tbsp	3 Tbsp	4 cups	15-20 minutes

Cookware

1 medium saucepan

Instructions

Note

The longer you cook the roux, the less it will thicken a sauce or other mixture. Heat eventually breaks down the starch in the flour.

Step 1

Melt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat add 2 Tbsp clarified butter. Whisk in until well blended and smooth, about 1.5 minutes 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.

Step 2

White roux, used to make white sauce, or béchamel, is cooked just until the butter and flour are evenly incorporated and should be removed from the heat before the roux begins to color, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

Blond roux, used in velouté sauces and some cream soups, is cooked until it begins to give off a faint nutty aroma and turns an ivory color, 6 to 7 minutes.

Step 4

Brown roux, basic to Cajun and Creole cooking, is cooked the longest (15 to 20 minutes, sometimes more) until it is dark brown and has a string nutty fragrance.

Step 5

Light sauce uses 3 oz total roux (1.5 oz each of butter and flour) for each 4 cups of liquid.

Step 6

Medium sauce uses 4 oz total roux (2 oz each of butter and flour) for each 4 cups of liquid.

Step 7

Heavy sauce uses 6 oz total roux (3 oz each of butter and flour) for each 4 cups of liquid.

Source

Joy of Cooking