BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE SAUCE)
This classic sauce, sometimes simply called white sauce, adds a rich and creamy quality to a variety of vegetable dishes. It can be spooned over hot cooked vegetables just before serving or mixed with them to make an easy yet elegant creamed vegetable course. To turn the creamed vegetables into a gratin, place in a baking dish, top with cheese and then bake in the oven until golden. Personally, my favorite use of bechamel sauce is to make Recipe #514039. (Sorry about that, folks... but that is what my mother always called it). Enjoy. *Note See steps #5 & #6 if desiring a thinner bechamel or a cheese sauce. *Note: I have also been known to sub 1/4 cup of the liquids with 1/4 cup white wine (but that's my little secret... at least it used to be).
Provided by rosie316
Categories Sauces
Time 10m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, until blended, 1 minute. Add the paprika and/or nutmeg (if using) and add the bay leaf.
- Gradually add the warm milk, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper.
- Increase the heat to medium and simmer to blend the flavors, 2 minutes. Discard the bay leaf before using.
- Now you can use your sauce any way you like. Like I said before, my personal favorite use is for making Recipe #514039, but I also like eating this bechamel, AS IS, on veggies or making a cheese sauce (see *Notes below). Enjoy!
- *Note: For a thinner sauce, reduce the flour and butter to 2 tablespoons each, but stay the same with the liquid(s). (I highly recommend this if you plan to make a cheese sauce with this (posted below).
- *Note: To create a cheese sauce, whisk 1/2 cup (or more) of grated Gruyère, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Sharp Cheddar or Farm-house White Cheddar (my fav) or any other cheese into the finished béchamel sauce. If a lighter cheese sauce is desired, substitute chicken stock for part of the milk, or use a lesser amount of the flour & butter ratio (like posted above).
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Mursalin Mn
[email protected]This recipe is a keeper! I will definitely be making this sauce again.
Smarika Adhikari
[email protected]This sauce was bland and flavorless. I had to add a lot of salt and pepper to make it taste good.
Jayden Vargas
[email protected]I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my sauce turned out lumpy.
Malik ArbaZ
[email protected]This sauce is a little too thick for my taste, but it still tastes good. I might try adding more milk next time.
Riqiyo sheekh C/ wali
[email protected]This sauce is delicious! I used it over chicken and it was so good. I will definitely be making this again.
Rehmat Ullah
[email protected]This sauce is perfect for lasagna. It's creamy and smooth, and it pairs perfectly with the other flavors in the dish.
Mavis Akwetey
[email protected]I'm so glad I found this recipe. This is the best bechamel sauce I've ever had.
Sampath Sampath
[email protected]This sauce is so easy to make and it tastes amazing. I love that it's so versatile and can be used in so many different dishes.
Joniad Chan
[email protected]This recipe is a keeper! I will definitely be making this sauce again.
Asif Jani
[email protected]This sauce was bland and flavorless. I had to add a lot of salt and pepper to make it taste good.
rachel Efe
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and my sauce turned out lumpy. I'm not sure what I did wrong.
Raul Pacori
[email protected]This sauce was a little too thick for my taste, but it still tasted good. I might try adding more milk next time.
segun akinwale
[email protected]Perfect sauce for my croque monsieur.
Niaz Wali Afghan
[email protected]This sauce was easy to make and turned out great. I used it over chicken and vegetables and it was a hit with the whole family.
Gauri Basnet
[email protected]I made this sauce for my lasagna and it was delicious! It was the perfect addition to the dish and really brought all the flavors together.
Mbabazi Philbert
[email protected]This is the best bechamel sauce recipe I've ever tried. It's so smooth and creamy, and it has the perfect flavor. I will definitely be making this again and again.
Jacob Phetla
[email protected]I've made this sauce a few times now and it's always a hit. It's so versatile and can be used in so many different dishes. I love that it's a classic French sauce that's easy to make at home.
Shoaib Shoaibmalik
[email protected]This was my first time making bechamel sauce and it turned out perfect! I followed the recipe exactly and it was so easy to make. The sauce was creamy and smooth, and it paired perfectly with my chicken parmesan.