Roux: A mixture of flour and fat
that, after being slowly cooked over
low heat, is used to thicken mixtures
such as soups and sauces. There are three classic roux — white, blond
and brown. The color and flavor is determined by the length of time the
mixture is cooked. Both white roux and blond roux are made with butter.
The former is cooked just until it begins to turn beige and the latter until
pale golden. Both are used to thicken cream and white sauces and light
soups. The fuller-flavored brown roux can be made with butter, drippings
or pork or beef fat. It’s cooked to a deep golden brown and used for rich,
dark soups and sauces. Cajun and Creole dishes use a lard-based roux,
which is cooked (sometimes for almost an hour) until a beautiful mahogany
brown. This dark, nutty-flavored base is indispensable for specialties
like Gumbo.