Roux: meaning, definitions and examples

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roux

[ ruː ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

cooking

A mixture of fat (usually butter) and flour cooked together and used to thicken sauces.

Synonyms

binder, thickening agent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
roux	Used in cooking as a base to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. It is made by cooking equal parts of flour and fat (such as butter) together. She started the sauce with a classic roux of butter and flour. The chef made a roux to thicken the chicken stew.
thickening agent	Used in cooking to refer to various substances that help to make liquids thicker, such as flour, cornstarch, or gelatin. It is a broader term than 'roux' and can apply to any material performing this function. Cornstarch is a common thickening agent used in Chinese cuisine. The soup was too thin, so she added a thickening agent to achieve the desired consistency.
binder	Used in cooking or food preparation to describe something that holds ingredients together, like eggs in meatballs or bread crumbs in veggie patties. Also used in other contexts, like bookbinding or construction. Adding an egg to the mixture will act as a binder and keep the meatballs from falling apart. She used a binder to compile all the important documents.

Word

Description / Examples

roux

Used in cooking as a base to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. It is made by cooking equal parts of flour and fat (such as butter) together.

She started the sauce with a classic roux of butter and flour.
The chef made a roux to thicken the chicken stew.

thickening agent

Used in cooking to refer to various substances that help to make liquids thicker, such as flour, cornstarch, or gelatin. It is a broader term than 'roux' and can apply to any material performing this function.

Cornstarch is a common thickening agent used in Chinese cuisine.
The soup was too thin, so she added a thickening agent to achieve the desired consistency.

binder

Used in cooking or food preparation to describe something that holds ingredients together, like eggs in meatballs or bread crumbs in veggie patties. Also used in other contexts, like bookbinding or construction.

Adding an egg to the mixture will act as a binder and keep the meatballs from falling apart.
She used a binder to compile all the important documents.

Examples of usage

Add the roux to the sauce to thicken it.
The chef prepared a roux for the gumbo.
She stirred the roux until it reached a golden brown color.

Translations

Translations of the word "roux" in other languages:

🇵🇹 roux

🇮🇳 रूक्स (ruuks)

🇩🇪 Roux

🇮🇩 roux

🇺🇦 ру (піджарене борошно для соусу)

🇵🇱 zasmażka

🇯🇵 ルー (rū)

🇫🇷 roux

🇪🇸 roux

🇹🇷 roux

🇰🇷 루 (ru)

🇸🇦 رو (ru)

🇨🇿 jíška

🇸🇰 zápražka

🇨🇳 鲁 (lǔ)

🇸🇮 prežganje

🇮🇸 smjörbollur

🇰🇿 ру (ұн мен май қоспасы)

🇬🇪 რუ (ru)

🇦🇿 ru

🇲🇽 roux

Etymology

The word 'roux' originated from French cuisine, where it is commonly used as a base for sauces and soups. The technique of combining fat and flour to create a roux has been a staple in cooking for centuries, dating back to medieval times. The word itself can be traced back to the Latin word 'reducere', meaning 'to bring back' or 'to thicken'. Over time, roux has become a fundamental element in many culinary traditions around the world.