Why is it called a roux sauce?
As far back as 1651, François Pierre La Varenne wrote a cookbook in which he mentioned liaison de farine which was made with flour and lard. He called this mixture “thickening of flower,” and it later came to be known as farine frit, or roux.
What is in a roux?
A roux is a cooked mixture of equal parts flour and fat. When flour is cooked in fat, the fat coats the flour’s starch granules. This helps keep lumps from forming when the roux is combined with liquid such as milk or stock, yielding a silky-smooth, uniform sauce.
What is brown roux used for?
“Brown roux is used to thicken rich brown sauces like Espagnole and Demi-glace. It is made by cooking flour in clarified butter in the oven, gently and for a long time, stirring frequently.
What does a mirepoix consist of?
Mirepoix (pronunciation: meer-PWAH) is the aromatic flavor base made by lightly cooking onions, celery, and carrots. The vegetables are cooked slowly in butter or oil in order to coax out the flavors without browning or caramelizing them.
What is the difference between gravy and roux?
Roux is not the finished sauce or gravy. Roux usually involves cooking until the flour or other starch begins to brown. Gravy is a kind of sauce, that can begin with a roux, or with other ingredients. White gravies can have fat or oil, and flour, but they are not cooked until the flour is brown.
What is the difference between a bechamel sauce and a roux?
A roux is a mixture of (usually) equal quantities of flour and butter that’s used as a thickening agent in sauces. A béchamel is a sauce made using a roux with the addition of (usually) milk.
What is the point of roux?
A roux is a combination of flour and fat which is commonly used as a thickening agent in cooking of stews and sauces. A roux can also be used as a base for various Classical French sauces, such as Bechamel or Velouté.