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4.9 from 183 votes

How to Make Dark Roux for Gumbo

Can't find a jar of dark roux at the grocery store and want to make gumbo? If you've got flour and fat, you can make your own! Learn how to make a roux for gumbo here with all my best tips and tricks.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 8 servings (about 2 cups)
Calories: 152 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun

Ingredients

  • 2 cups unflavored oil or animal fat
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 240g

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Pour in the oil. When warm, add the flour.
  3. Cook the roux over medium heat until it has darkened to a deep brown color, constantly stirring to ensure the flour does not burn. (There should be no black flecks in the roux. If there are burned bits, you will need to start over because the scorched taste of a burned roux cannot be fixed.)
  4. You may turn down the burner when your roux is a milk chocolate color and continue cooking it until the roux reaches a dark chocolate color. Many people stop cooking their gumbo roux at a milk chocolate color. To get the big, bold, nutty flavor of a true dark roux, you need to keep cooking it until it’s a deep dark chocolate brown. There should not be black flecks in it.
  5. When it’s ready, the roux will be a dark chocolate color. It will smell nutty and toasted. The cooking of the roux will take between 30-45 minutes total, depending on your stovetop.
  6. Remove from the heat, and let cool slightly before adding to a gumbo or storing in the refrigerator for later.

Notes

  • How to store: Store the roux in an airtight container in the fridge for weeks. This should not go bad.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving Calories 152kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 6g (2%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 13g

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings (about 2 cups)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 152

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 152kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 6g 2%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 13g 76%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.