Gumbo Base (aka Roux)

Total Time: 17 mins Preparation Time: 2 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup butter (or oil, but the oil will change the flavor)

Recipe

• 1 melt butter in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium to medium high heat.
• 2 slowly sprinkle in the flour a little at a time, stirring constantly.
• 3 continue to stir constantly.
• 4 do not walk away!
• 5 if you burn it even the tiniest bit, it is unusable.
• 6 you will notice the flour beginning to brown.
• 7 the darker the flour, the darker the gravy.
• 8 for gumbo, when the roux reaches a deep dark chocolate brown color it is done.
• 9 at that point you would add your seasonings, such as onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery.
• 10 you can make this ahead of time and keep tightly covered in the frige or freezer.