How to make a Roux

I have made a roux so many times that I can make it in my sleep.  If you have not learned how to make a roux, you will want to.  A roux has so many applications and the basic technique is used in many forms of cooking from the French, to the Italians, to Cajun.  A roux will elevate your game in the kitchen and it will up even your most basic dishes like macaroni N cheese.

A roux is simply equal parts of butter and flour.  Actually, these two ingredients are the base of a blond roux.  If the two ingredients are canola oil and flour, then you have the base of a dark roux, and you are more than likely, making a Gumbo – one of my favorites!  In a roux, the butter is melted and then the flour is added.  The flour absorbs all the butter and forms a grainy looking type mixture.  From this point, the flavor and consistency are developed depending on what you are making and the style of cooking you are following.

If you are making a French inspired dish, then milk or cream is added to create what is known as a béchamel sauce.  If you are making an Italian inspired dish, then milk, cream or stock is added to make a gravy – the base for a pasta sauce.  Or Cajun for gumbo or the above Cajun Pasta.  If, however, you are making the American invented macaroni and cheese, you will add milk, cream or my favorite adaption, coconut milk and chicken stock.  I have tried many a combination for my sauce formed from my roux.  I love the combination beginning with the coconut milk because the coconut milk provides a thick, rich texture.  The stock is added to thin the sauce out just a little.

Once the creamy sauce is ready, the fun begins.  In my macaroni N cheese, the cheese is added a little at a time on medium high heat until the cheese fully melts and is incorporated into the cream mixture.  I should step back for one second and tell you that you want the coconut milk and stock at room temperature.  If you pulled some from the fridge, be sure to heat it up in a sauce pan before adding to the roux.  Getting back to completing the cheese sauce, keep adding the cheese in a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency of your cheese sauce.  The dish is completed by pouring cooked pasta directly into the pan you made the cheese sauce in.  So before you start, make sure you selected the right size pan to work with. 

The roux begins by melting the butter.

Next the flour is added and mixed until all the butter is absorbed.

Then, the coconut milk and chicken stock are added a little at a time.  Don’t add more in until the mixture is fully absorbed by the roux.  Generally, I use about 2/3 to ¾ coconut milk and 1/3 to ¼ chicken stock.

The coconut milk and chicken stock are added in approximately 3 stages.

The finally cream sauce has a very smooth texture.  The best way to see if the consistency is correct is to drop in a wooden spoon.  The cream sauce should adhere to the spoon, not drip off the spoon.