White sauce, a staple in many cuisines, is a versatile sauce that can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences and the dish you're preparing. From classic béchamel to creamy Alfredo and tangy Mornay, there's a white sauce variation for every occasion. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a rich, flavorful sauce that elevates the flavors of your favorite foods. In this article, we'll explore some of the most popular variations of white sauce, along with tips and tricks to help you make the perfect sauce every time.
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.
EASY WHITE SAUCE (WITH VARIATIONS) FOR THE MICROWAVE
Making sauces is simple in a microwave oven since you don't have to worry about scorching, sticking or overcooking. Occasional, rather than constant, stirring prevents lumping.
Provided by Anu_N
Categories Sauces
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine melted butter, flour and salt in a medium bowl.
- Gradually add milk and stir until smooth.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, at MEDIUM heat in a microwave for 6 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.
- For Cheese Sauce: Stir in 1/2 to 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese.
- Cook at HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes, if necessary, to completely melt cheese.
- For Curry Sauce: Stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons curry powder.
- For Horseradish Sauce: Add 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish.
- For Mustard Sauce: Add 2 tablespoons prepared mustard and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
- Please note this Mustard Sauce is not Vegetarian.
MAGIC WHITE SAUCE (AND VARIATIONS)
Sick of lumpy sauce? Hate making that flour and butter roux? Here's the answer! This is the easiest version of White Sauce ever. You won't believe it works until you try it! You will need a wire balloon whisk for this recipe and you must make sure that all ingredients are cold (or at least at room temperature) to begin with. Thanks to English food writer, Delia Smith, for discovering this all-in-one method. The following are my simplified adaptations for Basic White Sauce, along with variations for Mustard Sauce, Cheese Sauce (Mornay Sauce) and Parsley Sauce.
Provided by Kookaburra
Categories Sauces
Time 20m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Pour milk into a saucepan.
- Add all other ingredients.
- Place pan over a medium heat, and, using a wire balloon whisk, whisk sauce constantly until butter melts.
- Be sure to work the whisk into the edges of the pan to incorporate all the flour.
- Whisk frequently until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
- Taste and add extra seasoning if required.
- Variations: Mustard Sauce Make sauce as per recipe, but use 1 ½ cups milk and ½ cup chicken stock.
- Along with the salt, add 2 teaspoons mustard powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder and substitute a good pinch of cayenne pepper for the black pepper.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice when sauce is completed.
- Cheese Sauce Make sauce as per recipe, but use 1 cup milk and 1 cup cream.
- Along with the salt, add a good pinch of nutmeg and substitute a good pinch of cayenne pepper for black pepper.
- At the simmering stage stir in 75g- 100g grated tasty cheese (I like a mixture of mature cheddar and parmesan).
- Stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice when sauce is completed.
- Parsley Sauce Make sauce as per recipe, but use 1 ¾ cups milk and ¼ cup cream.
- When sauce is finished, mix in 4 tablespoons finely chopped parsley and 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
BASIC WHITE SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS
Basic white sauce is an ingredient used in many dishes. Here is the way to make it. Then you can add an ingredient and make a different, more flavorful sauce.
Provided by Lorraine of AZ
Categories < 15 Mins
Time 15m
Yield 2 cups dip
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook 2 minutes to cook away the raw taste of the flour.
- Add the milk all at once. Stir well, and continue heating until mixture comes to a boil. It will thicken as it heats.
- Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
- To make Veloute Sauce: Substitute the chicken stock for the milk.
- To make Cheese Sauce: Stir in shredded cheese of choice into the cooked Basic White Sauce and stir until melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 689.9, Fat 48.8, SaturatedFat 29.6, Cholesterol 138.5, Sodium 1172.3, Carbohydrate 36.5, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 3.9, Protein 27
BASIC WHITE SAUCE AND VARIATIONS
This Basic White Sauce can have many variations, and Sooo Good with Sooo Many Things. You can call it Biscuit Gravy, Milk Gravy, Country Gravy or with one of my variations I call it "Poor Man's Alfredo Sauce". This is my eight year old friend Isabel ready to serve up Breakfast, which she prepared. (She is standing on a stool, to...
Provided by Gary Hancq
Categories Other Sauces
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- 1. Heat milk in fry pan do not boil but bring to low simmer.
- 2. When milk is heated stir the corn starch into 1/2 cup cold water and mix well.
- 3. Reduce heat and stir in the corn starch mixture to the milk. Stir well. then turn up heat again to medium and slow simmer, continue stirring. Note: Corn Starch has to come to a rolling simmer or slow boil in order for it to thicken.
- 4. Simmer on low for approximately 10 minutes. Then very low to keep warm. When re-heating add a small amount of additional milk, stir well.
- 5. Here's the variations: Add shredded Dried Beef, cooked and crumpled breakfast sausage, or fried hamburger loosely cooked for Great Biscuit Gravy. Add finely shredded or powdered cheese and melt well for serving over Asparagus or Salmon Patties. Add 1/2 to 2/3 cup Sour Cream, 2 teaspoons garlic powder and 2/3 cup Parmesan Cheese to make my "Poor Man's Alfredo Sauce".
- 6. Other variations: Add a bit of Garlic and Onion Powder, and cheese and add to Augratin Potatoes. I make a cheesey batch of this for my Maccaroni and Cheese dishes. Also add to Tuna and Noodle casserole without the cheese. The possibilities are endless. Add a dash of "Kitchen Bouquet" if you want to brown it slightly for Chicken Fried Steak. Replace the 2 cups milk with a can of Condensed Milk and a can of water and you have a different and richer taste.
- 7. Note: You can make a basic White sauce with flour and butter or grease, but the Corn Starch method provides for a quicker and easier and more lump free final product usually.
- 8. Pictured is my eight year old friend Isabel making Biscuit Gravy for the crowd. She added Dried Beef torn into pieces for this one. Isabel with minimum oversight prepared everything involved in our Thanksgiving Dinner. It is refreshing to see a youngster with such an avid interest. She Rocks.
WHITE SAUCE VARIATIONS RECIPE - (4.5/5)
Provided by GratefulSea
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Put the butter or oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. When that's melted/hot whisk in the flour. Reduce heat to low (tip: if using an electric stove, and a second burner already set to low, and move the pan over), and continue whisking until the mixture darkens to a golden color, about 3 minutes. Add one cup of the milk, slowly, while whisking constantly, allowing the sauce to become thick. Slowly add more milk, bit by bit, until the sauce is slightly thinner than you'd want. It will thicken as it continues to cook. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately. You may also keep the sauce warm in a double boiler over gently simmering water; stir occasionally. VARIATIONS: FOR CAPER SAUCE: during the last minute of cooking, add 1 Tblsp or more of capers. FOR CHEESE SAUCE: add 1/2 to 1 cup of grated Swiss or Gruyere just after sauce has thickened. FOR CURRY SAUCE: Add 1 Tblsp curry power along with the flour. FOR HERB SAUCE: Stir in any minced herbs, fresh or dried, during the last minute of cooking. FOR MUSHROOM SAUCE: replace milk with chicken stock, and use the mushroom soaking liquid for part of that mixture; ad 2 Tblsp reconstituted dry mushrooms in the last minute of cooking. FOR MUSTARD SAUCE: during the last minute of cooking, add 1 Tblsp prepared mustard. FOR NUT SAUCE: before adding flour, cook 2 Tblsp pine nuts in the butter until lightly browned. FOR ONION SAUCE: before adding flour, cook 1/4 cup minced shallot, onion, or scallion in the butter until softend.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the flavor of your white sauce. Use fresh, organic ingredients whenever possible.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken white sauce. It is important to cook the roux until it is a light golden color. This will give the sauce a rich, nutty flavor.
- Use a flavorful liquid: The liquid you use to make your white sauce will also impact the flavor. Milk is a classic choice, but you can also use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even wine.
- Season the sauce to taste: White sauce is a blank canvas that can be seasoned to your liking. Salt and pepper are essential, but you can also add herbs, spices, or a touch of lemon juice.
- Use the sauce immediately or store it for later: White sauce can be used immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to use the sauce, reheat it gently over low heat until it is warmed through.
Conclusion:
White sauce is a versatile and delicious sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. With a few simple tips, you can make a white sauce that is perfect for your next meal.
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