Without a good, rich roux — the key component of the perfect gumbo — the dish is a dud. You can cook this fat-and-flour combination that's used as a thickener in everything from sauces to stews to ...

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a cookie sheet, place 3-4 cups all-purpose flour keeping 1 inch away from the sides of the pan. Place in the pan in the oven. Make sure and stir every 30 minutes. If ...