Bechamel sauce, also known as white sauce, is a versatile and essential component of many culinary creations. Its creamy, smooth texture and delicate flavor make it a perfect base for various dishes, ranging from classic French cuisine to modern comfort food. With its simple ingredients and straightforward preparation method, bechamel sauce can elevate the flavors of a wide array of dishes, from hearty casseroles to elegant gratins. This article delves into the secrets of crafting the perfect basic bechamel sauce, unveils its versatile variations, and provides insights into incorporating this culinary staple into your cooking repertoire.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE) SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS INCLUDING AU GRATIN
Bechamel is one of the five mother sauces. This means it is a base for many things. If used plain, frequently onion and nutmeg are added. Keep this recipe and you don't need a bunch of recipes for variations like Au Gratin. Make it your own.
Provided by Ambervim
Categories Sauces
Time 10m
Yield 1 Cup
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- NOTE - It is best to use warm to hot liquids when making sauce, which helps to prevent lumps. Also, constant stirring will help prevent the sauce from scorching on the bottom. If sauce turns lumpy, whisk vigorously with a wire whip or strain through a wire sieve before serving.
- Stir in milk or other liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Option: Reduce milk by the same amount you add white wine, sherry or brandy will create a lovely flavor.
- CHEESE SAUCE - Once sauce is made, remove from heat and stir in 1/2 to 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese (or whatever flavor compliments what you are making -- better yet use 2 different cheeses), stirring until melted. To Au Gratin anything use this sauce mixed with potatoes, veggies, meats or whatever and heat through. Top with seasoned bread crumbs and more cheese finishing in the broiler.
- CURRY SAUCE - Stir in 1/2 teaspoon curry powder with the flour.
- DILL SAUCE - Stir in 1 teaspoon chopped fresh, or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed and a dash of ground nutmeg with the flour.
- MORNAY SAUCE.
- Add 1/2 cup grated cheese to 1 cup of hot sauce; stir over low heat until cheese is melted. Season with a little mustard or Worcestershire sauce to taste.
- VELOUTE SAUCE.
- Substitute chicken, beef, fish, or vegetable broth for the milk.
- HERB SAUCE.
- Add 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped herbs or 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs to 1 cup of hot sauce. Cook for a minute or two longer to get more flavor from the herbs.
- CREAM SAUCE.
- Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to the finished sauce. For an onion flavor, add an onion slice to the milk when heating; remove onion slice before adding milk to flour and butter mixture.
- MUSTARD SAUCE.
- Combine 1 teaspoon dry mustard to flour used in sauce. This sauce is especially good with fish and chicken.
BASIC MEDIUM BéCHAMEL SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS
Basic Béchamel sauce recipe-also known as white sauce-with several variations. Variations include Mornay, velouté, herb sauce, and more.
Provided by Diana Rattray
Categories Sauce
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Melt butter in a saucepan or saucier over medium heat. Add flour and stir until mixture is well blended. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
- Gradually stir in hot milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to boil and thickens.
- Simmer, stirring frequently, over very low heat for 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and add a little nutmeg, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 64 kcal, Carbohydrate 4 g, Cholesterol 13 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 117 mg, Sugar 2 g, Fat 5 g, ServingSize 1 Cup (4 to 6 Servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
BASIC BECHAMEL SAUCE
This is a quick and easy bechamel sauce.
Provided by MATHIEUDAIGLE
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Creamy
Time 40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the flour until smooth. Continue stirring as the flour cooks to a light, golden, sandy color, about 7 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in milk until thickened by the roux. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue simmering until the flour has softened and not longer tastes gritty, 10 to 20 minutes, then season with salt and nutmeg.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 139.3 calories, Carbohydrate 8.7 g, Cholesterol 28.8 mg, Fat 9.7 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 4.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.1 g, Sodium 682.6 mg, Sugar 5.8 g
WHITE SAUCE OR BECHAMEL SAUCE
This used to be one of the first lessons in home economics classes; invariably white and pasty, it coated many a bland dish. When well made, however, it has a proper place in homey, creamed dishes, often making leftovers stretch or giving cooked foods new life. And it is important as a base for soufflés. The French term for this medium-thick white sauce is béchamel. The foolproof way to attain a perfectly smooth sauce is to have the milk hot when added to the butter and flour. It uses an extra pot, but as you become more proficient, this cautionary measure may not be necessary.
Provided by Marion Cunningham
Categories Sauce Milk/Cream Quick & Easy
Yield Makes about 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown - about 2 minutes. Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Bring it to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the heat. To cool this sauce for later use, cover it with wax paper or pour a film of milk over it to prevent a skin from forming.
- Cheese Sauce.
- Stir in 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking, along with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- How hot should the milk be?
- Warm the milk on low heat just until little bubbles begin to form at the edges. Then remove from heat.
BECHAMEL (WHITE SAUCE)
This easy-to-make sauce is delicious over chicken, pasta, steamed veggies, and more! While the recipe calls for 2 cups of milk, you may need to add 1 Tbs. - 1/4 cup more to thin, depending on your heat and other variables. Remember, sauces thicken as they cool, but they still take quite a while to thicken (up to 15 minutes, depending on your heat).
Provided by ABfan13
Categories Sauces
Time 15m
Yield 2 1/2 cups, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly, about 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually add in the milk, stirring constantly, until thoroughly incorporated into butter mixture.
- Add salt, pepper, oregano, and minced garlic (I like using my garlic press for this). Stir frequently until thickened. See note for tip on thinning.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 212.6, Fat 16.1, SaturatedFat 10.1, Cholesterol 47.6, Sodium 643.3, Carbohydrate 12.7, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 0.1, Protein 5.1
BASIC WHITE SAUCE
For years, I've used this smooth white cream sauce for pasta to make many dishes. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. -Lois Gelzer, Standish, Maine
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Use immediately or refrigerate.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 51 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 81mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
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).
Tips:
- Use a large saucepan. This will give you plenty of room to whisk the sauce and prevent it from scorching.
- Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan. This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the sauce from scorching.
- Melt the butter over medium heat. This will help to prevent the butter from burning.
- Gradually whisk in the flour. This will help to prevent the sauce from clumping.
- Cook the roux for 1-2 minutes. This will help to develop the flavor of the roux.
- Gradually whisk in the milk. This will help to prevent the sauce from curdling.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until it has thickened. This will help to develop the flavor of the sauce.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. This will help to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
- Use the sauce immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will give you plenty of time to use the sauce in your favorite recipes.
Conclusion:
Bechamel sauce is a versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a great way to add flavor and richness to your favorite meals. With just a few simple ingredients, you can easily make a delicious bechamel sauce at home. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy way to add flavor to your meals, give bechamel sauce a try. You won't be disappointed!
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