| 1 | Here"s a little something for when you get tired of all that disgusting smoked salmon... |
| 2 | Had a real treat in the food section from the sf chron last wednesday. |
| 3 | There was a big article on queen ida along with her recipe for gumbo. |
| 4 | She has a cookbook out++how that escaped me i have no idea. |
| 5 | It"s called "cookin" with queen ida". |
| 6 | Once roux has started to color, never leave the stove: ignore telephones, doorbells, children and the pets, and keep stirring. |
| 7 | If a roux burns (it will develop a burned smell and blackened patches), throw it out and start over. |
| 8 | Roux can"t be rushed, it"s a gradual process and needs patience. |
| 9 | When cooked too rapidly, roux may brown but it won"t develop its characteristic flavor. |
| 10 | When roux is done, it will smell like well-cooked flour; it may taste and smell slightly bitter when sampled "as is", but this doesn"t mean it is burned. |
| 11 | Mix oil and flour in a heavy cast-iron skillet. |
| 12 | Do not use a nonstick-coated pan. |
| 13 | If mixture is not as soft as pancake batter, add more oil. |
| 14 | Cook over low to medium heat, stirring gently but constantly with a wooden spoon, scraping roux from bottom and sides of skillet. |
| 15 | If any lumps develop, whisk with a wire whisk until they break up. |
| 16 | Cook until the color is almost a mahogany or chile powder red-brown. |
| 17 | This will take from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your pan and heat of your stove. |
| 18 | Be patient. |
| 19 | After the roux is done, remove from heat to cool, but keep stirring constantly for the first few minutes. |
| 20 | Then stir frequently for 10 minutes longer, since roux will continue to cook from its own heat for a few minutes. |
| 21 | As the roux cools, some of the oil will float to the top. |
| 22 | Spoon it off. |
| 23 | Turn roux into a container, and store in the refrigerator. |
| 24 | Before using, skim off any oil that has separated out, and let roux come to room temperature. |
| 25 | Note: if you do a lot of creole cooking, you can double or triple the recipe. |
| 26 | It will take longer to cook, of course |
