Étuver

In the strictest and simplest sense, to étuver is to cook in a covered container. More often, however, it means that a small amount of liquid has also been included. Sometimes spelled étouffer, “to smother,” the word functions as both verb (étuver or étouffer) and noun (étuvé or étouffée). Étouffées are not to be confused with estouffade, a type of stew.