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    Home / Recipes / Tips & Tricks

    How to Make Gluten-Free Roux

    Posted On Feb 21, 2019 · Updated On Jan 18, 2023

    How to Make Gluten-Free Roux

    Gravy, Sauces, Soups, Gumbo: they all need Roux. Now you have it!

    Dairy FreeRecipes & Techniques by Cooks We LoveTips & Tricks

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    How to Make Gluten-Free Roux: it's one of the basics you need to know! This recipe for gluten-free roux also offers a dairy-free version, plus tips & tricks for getting gluten-free roux just right.

    White Lasagna with Mushrooms, Spinach and Artichokes recipe

    Can you make thick, rich gluten-free sauces & gravies? Yes, you can.

    This White Lasagna starts with a roux that becomes a creamy mushroom sauce. Who wouldn't want that? Nobody, that's who.

    You can use this roux to make your own gluten-free sauces and recipes, or convert conventional favorites, like sausage gravy.

    What to use the roux for, and roux colors or "stages"

    Roux is used for thickening gravies, soups, sauces - all kinds of delicious things. Many recipes call for a white or blond roux, which simply refers to the color of the mixture as it cooks. Gumbo and a few other dishes call for a "brick" roux (or a dark roux). This just means that the mixture is cooked until it gets brick red- just before it burns! 

    Pro Tip: don't take gluten-free roux much past the "peanut butter" stage

    Because gluten-free flour acts a little differently than wheat flour, I don't recommend making gluten-free roux much darker than peanut butter colored. Going darker than that can result in a burnt or scorched taste, even if the gluten-free roux doesn't look burned. I also don't make the roux in the oven, because I think you really need to keep an eye on it.

    Choosing gluten-free flour for roux:

    I usually use one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends to make roux, along with butter or olive oil. My favorites are Pamela’s Gluten-Free Artisan Blend or King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose blend. Neither of these blends contains dairy- some GF blends do. You can also use a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour/starch.

    Can you make grain-free roux? Yes.

    If you'd like to make your roux grain-free, the best option I've found is using a mixture of cassava flour and tapioca starch.

    gluten-free roux recipe

    What do you need to make this roux recipe gluten-free?

    Making gluten-free or gluten-free dairy-free roux doesn't take much. Here's what you need:

    Supplies:

    • heavy duty saucepan or skillet
    • whisk

    Ingredients:

    • butter or olive oil
    • gluten-free flour blend -OR- sweet rice flour + tapioca starch

    Making dairy-free roux:

    You’ll notice I use a little less olive oil than butter when I make dairy-free roux. That’s because the consistency of the oil is different than butter. Roux is usually half butter-half flour, and I've tried all kinds of dairy-free fats and oils. I'm convinced if you need GFDF roux, the scant-olive-oil-way is the best way.

    Now you're ready to make gluten-free Bechamel Sauce or one of your other favorites.

    whisking gluten free roux

    Gluten-Free Roux Recipe

    K.C. Cornwell
    How to Make Gluten-Free Roux: it's one of the basics you need to know for gravy, soups, sauces and gumbo. This recipe can also be made dairy-free.
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 1 batch
    Calories 496 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 tablespoons butter -OR- 3 ½ tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 tablespoons gluten-free flour blend -OR- 2 tablespoons rice flour + 2 tablespoons tapioca flour * for grain-free, use 2 tablespoon cassava flour + 2 tablespoon tapioca flour

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium-sized, heavy duty saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted (or warm the oil).
      adding flour to make gluten free white sauce
    • Add the gluten-free flour and whisk until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden sandy color (blond roux), about 6 to 7 minutes.
      gluten free roux recipe
    • If desired, reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the mixture turns the color of peanut butter, roughly 4-6 minutes more.
      Gluten-Free Roux

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    Use this roux to make soup, gravy, stew, or even gluten-free white sauce!
     
    • Nutrition calculated for one batch of gluten-free roux using butter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 496kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 13mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1399IUCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword gluten-free, roux

     images by Meg van der Kruik

    Gluten-Free Bechamel Sauce

    Use your roux to make Gluten-Free Bechamel Sauce/White Sauce:

    This Gluten-Free Béchamel Sauce recipe can be made with or without dairy, and it always comes out beautifully.

    Frequently asked questions about gluten-free roux:

    Can you use gluten-free flour for a Roux?

    Yes, but the blend matters. Don't use an all-nut blend or a blend with tons of binders. Our favorites are Pamela’s Gluten-Free Artisan Blend or King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose blend, which has less binders then their Measure for Measure blend. You can also use finely ground sweet rice flour, our favorite is from Koda Farms, with a bit of tapioca starch.

    Can almond flour be used to make a roux?

    All-nut flours won't thicken the same way as conventional flour or a GF blend. If you want to make a grain free roux, the best bet is to use a blend of arrowroot or tapioca starch and cassava.

    What is the best gluten free flour to use for thickening sauces or gravy?

    The best options to use as a universal cooked thickener like roux are rice flour + tapioca flour or a gluten-free all purpose blend. Arrowroot, cornstarch or tapioca slurries will work if you're trying to thicken a sauce without starting from a roux.

    Will gluten free flour thicken a sauce?

    Yes, absolutely. Be sure to use a blend that has some starch and/or binders, Pamela’s Gluten-Free Artisan Blend or King Arthur Measure for Measure blend.

    Can you make gluten-free and dairy-free roux?

    Yes. Use olive in a slightly reduced measurement for the fat, along with a gluten-free flour blend, and an unsweetened plant-based milk if you're making a white sauce or gravy.

    Are tapioca starch and tapioca flour the same?

    Yes. Tapioca flour and tapioca starch are the same product. That is not the case with potato flour/potato starch or corn flour/corn starch/corn meal, so it can be confusing.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carpenter Dave says

      September 22, 2021 at 8:24 pm

      Thank you for the information. You have a typo and a word omission in the first sentence under the heading "Choosing gluten-free flour for roux + making it dairy-free too".
      You sound like you really know your stuff but it is a bit hard to take you completely seriously when one has to guess what is trying to be communicated.

      Reply
      • Ed says

        November 26, 2021 at 6:07 pm

        You're an a$$

        Reply
      • Ryan says

        October 24, 2022 at 10:42 pm

        Shut the fuck up, Dave.

        Reply
    2. Olivia Lind says

      December 09, 2021 at 4:51 pm

      So excited I found this! I shared with a friend

      Reply

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    K.C. is a farm-grown foodie, born and raised in the fertile fields of California’s San Joaquin Valley. After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease following years of unexplained illness, she has infused her gluten-free life with flavor, fork in hand. Learn more about K.C.

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