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Definition of etouffee

etouffee

/ˌeɪ.tuːˈfeɪ/
e · touf · fee
Plural:etouffees
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etouffee Lexical Profile

etouffee Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A savory Cajun and Creole dish, traditionally made with shellfish such as crawfish or shrimp, smothered in a thick, seasoned roux-based sauce and served over rice.

Example

"For dinner, the chef prepared an authentic Louisiana crawfish etouffee with a dark, rich roux."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for etouffee

Word Nuance & Usage

While occasionally confused with gumbo or jambalaya, etouffee is distinctly characterized by its 'smothering' cooking technique and a thicker, roux-based sauce that is traditionally served over rice rather than mixed into it.

• Rhymes for etouffee

• Nearby Words

ethos
etiquette
etna
etouffee
etropole
etropole falls
etta

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Louisiana French 'étouffée', the feminine past participle of 'étouffer' (to smother or stifle), referring to the culinary method of cooking ingredients covered over low heat with a small amount of liquid.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Etouffee. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/etouffee
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