Culinary Terms Test: Roux, Mother Sauces, and More!

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔥 Roux: A cooked mixture of equal parts flour and fat, used as a thickening agent for sauces. The type of roux (white, blond, brown, dark brown) depends on the cooking time and desired color.
• 👩‍🍳 Mother Sauces: The five foundational sauces in classical cuisine: Béchamel, Velouté, Espagnole (or Brown Sauce), Hollandaise, and Tomato Sauce.
• 🥛 Béchamel: A white sauce made from milk thickened with a white roux.
• 🐟 Velouté: A savory sauce made from a light stock (chicken, veal, or fish) thickened with a blond roux.
• 🥩 Espagnole: A fortified brown veal stock sauce thickened with a brown roux.
• 🍅 Tomato Sauce: A sauce made from tomatoes (fresh or canned), vegetables, herbs, and sometimes stock.
• 🍳 Hollandaise: An emulsion of egg yolk, melted butter, and lemon juice or vinegar.
• 🔪 Mirepoix: A flavor base made from diced vegetables (usually onion, carrot, and celery) cooked in butter or oil. Ratio is usually 2:1:1.
• 🌿 Bouquet Garni: A bundle of herbs, usually tied together with string, used to flavor stocks, soups, and sauces.

Practice Quiz

1. What is a roux?
   1. A type of vegetable stock.
   2. A cooked mixture of equal parts flour and fat.
   3. A French pastry.
   4. A type of cheese.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the five mother sauces?
   1. Béchamel
   2. Velouté
   3. Alfredo
   4. Hollandaise
3. What is the base liquid for a velouté sauce?
   1. Milk
   2. Tomato juice
   3. Brown stock
   4. Light stock (chicken, veal, or fish)
4. What are the primary ingredients in a Hollandaise sauce?
   1. Cream and cheese
   2. Egg yolk, melted butter, and lemon juice
   3. Tomato, garlic, and herbs
   4. Mayonnaise and mustard
5. What is a mirepoix?
   1. A type of mushroom.
   2. A flavor base made from diced vegetables.
   3. A type of French bread.
   4. A cut of meat.
6. Which roux is cooked for the longest amount of time?
   1. White roux
   2. Blond roux
   3. Brown roux
   4. They are all cooked for the same amount of time.
7. What is a bouquet garni?
   1. A type of flower used for decoration.
   2. A bundle of herbs used to flavor stocks and sauces.
   3. A type of French cheese.
   4. A sweet pastry.