Monday, July 9, 2012

Back-to-da-basics!: Making a Roux


Whether you are making gravy for your biscuits or cheese sauce for your broccoli, you have to start anything of that nature with same two ingredients: flour and fat (typically butter).  This combination is the base for any sauce, gravy, dressing, dip, topping, etc. and is called a roux.  A roux just refers to the thickening agent that is made from equal parts flour and fat.  It`s simple, yet can be used to make a variety of different sauces.  It can even be used as a thickening agent for soup!  (Think cream of mushroom/chicken/celery.) I am not a fan of gravy, so to give you some practice on using a roux to make a sauce, I have given the following two recipes for you to try!...



Basic Cheese Sauce (for broccoli, baked potatoes, etc.)

2 T unsalted butter
2 T plain flour
1.5 c skim milk
2 c 2% shredded cheddar cheese

Melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk until combined.  Whisk in milk and turn heat to medium-high.  Continue to stir as mixture bubbles.  Once it thickens to a gravy-like consistency, remove from heat.  Add cheese and stir until sauce is of a smooth consistency.



Sour Cream Sauce (for Sour Cream Enchiladas)

1/4 c butter
1/4 c flour
15 oz chicken broth
1 cup light sour cream
4 oz chopped green chiles 

Melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk until combined.  Whisk in broth and bring mixture to a boil.  Continue stirring until mixture has thickened and is bubbling.

Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and green chiles.  Serve over enchiladas.

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