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    Home » Recipes » Sauces

    How to Make Bechamel Sauce

    Published: Mar 30, 2021 · Modified: Sep 3, 2021 by Katelyn Ryan · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Bechamel Sauce is the base for many delicious dishes like pot pie and macaroni and cheese. It is simple to prepare and versatile in its use.

    How to Make Bechamel Sauce

    One of the first lessons in culinary school, and one of the most important, is all about the five French "mother sauces". Bechamel Sauce is indeed one of the five sauces. Its use in recipes is wide, especially in many comforting dishes we know and love.

    Jump to:
    • What is Bechamel Sauce?
    • Ingredients
    • Tips
    • Instructions
    • How to Use Bechamel Sauce
    • Other Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe

    What is Bechamel Sauce?

    One of the five French "mother sauces", Bechamel is a thickened white sauce that is the starter to a multitude of dishes and sauces. While it does not have much flavor on its own, it is used as a base for many other delicious recipes, like cheddar sauce (macaroni and cheese), sausage gravy, and creamy casseroles. It is made with a white roux and warm milk, which is boiled and thickened.

    Ingredients

    This sauce is essentially made with three ingredients: butter, flour, and milk.

    • Butter - The classic Bechamel is a 3-to-3 ratio of fat to flour. This recipe is for a smaller quantity, so you'll only need 2 tablespoons of each butter and flour.
    • All-Purpose Flour - When added to the melted butter, the flour and butter become a roux. Because this is a white sauce, you are required to make a classic French white roux. A white roux requires the least amount of cooking. (The longer a roux cooks, the darker it becomes.)
    • Milk - Whole milk is the milk of choice for Bechamel. The milk needs to be warm when it is added to the roux. This can be done on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave.
    • Seasonings - Because this is "base" sauce, seasonings depend on its use. Season it with salt and pepper. A pinch of cayenne or nutmeg is a lovely accompaniment as well.
    Bechamel Sauce

    Tips

    1. Use cold butter for even, accurate melting.
    2. Do not add the flour too soon. Make sure the butter is completely melted and bubbling, but not browning before you add the flour.
    3. Make sure your milk is warm before adding it to the hot pan. Cold milk results in a lumpy sauce.
    4. Be attentive. Bechamel sauce is not difficult to prepare, but you need to be attentive to the process. This means adding ingredients at the right time and temperature, stirring continuously, and heating just until thickened.

    Instructions

    1. Melt the Butter: Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
    2. Make the Roux: Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour. Cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly until a paste develops. *Do not let it brown, we are looking for a white roux.
    3. Add the Warmed Milk: Slowly pour in the warm milk, continuing to constantly stir, and bring to a boil.
    4. Cook and Season: Lower the heat, still stirring, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat, or use it accordingly.

    How to Use Bechamel Sauce

    While there are a multitude of uses for Bechamel Sauce, here are a few of the best known uses.

    • Mornay Sauce (White Cheese Sauce) - Add ½-1 cup of grated gruyère cheese to the sauce at the end of its cooking. Stir until melted. Add a pinch of cayenne, nutmeg, or mustard powder, if desired. Toss the sauce with cooked pasta.
    • Chicken Pot Pie - Yes, this sauce is the starter to that delicious interior of a pot pie.
    • Vegetable Gratin - Use Bechamel Sauce and cheddar cheese to make a potato or cauliflower gratin.
    • Thickener for Soups - Bechamel acts as a thickener for soups like potato leek and cream of broccoli.
    • Use as a Sauce for Cooked Vegetables
    Bechamel Sauce
    How do you store Bechamel?

    Cool the béchamel quickly and transfer to an airtight container. Place plastic wrap or a sheet of wax paper directly onto the surface of the thickened sauce to keep the sauce from forming a skin. Refrigerate.

    How long does Bechamel Sauce last?

    Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Bechamel will last 4-5 days. It is best, however, when used within a day of making it.

    Other Recipes You'll Love

    • How to Make Basic Tomato Sauce
    • Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
    • How to Caramelize Onions
    • How to Make Garlic Confit

    Bechamel Sauce is one of those recipes you will eventually know by heart. This recipe is easy to remember, easy to make, and absolutely multifaceted in its use in the kitchen.

    📖 Recipe

    Bechamel Sauce

    Katelyn Ryan
    Bechamel Sauce is the base for many delicious dishes like pot pie and macaroni and cheese.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Condiments, Main Course
    Cuisine French
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 290 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon butter cold
    • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    • 1½ cups whole milk warmed; *see notes
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
    • Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour. Cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly until a paste develops. *Do not let it brown, we are looking for a white roux.
    • Slowly pour in the hot milk, continuing to constantly stir, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, still stirring, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened. 
    • Season with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat, or use it accordingly.

    Notes

    • Before you start making the sauce, warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until hot to the touch and slightly bubbly. You can also warm the milk in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave too. 
    • Finish the sauce with a pinch of cayenne or nutmeg. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 14gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 184mgPotassium: 525mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 624IUCalcium: 438mgIron: 1mg
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    About Katelyn Ryan

    Welcome, my name is Katelyn Ryan, and I am the Head Chef and Recipe Curator for Sugary Logic. My goal is to bring you simple, easy, and delicious recipes.

    Learn more about me →

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