Best 8 Basic Bechamel White Sauce With Variations Including Au Gratin Recipes

EASY WHITE SAUCE (WITH VARIATIONS) FOR THE MICROWAVE

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.

BASIC MEDIUM BéCHAMEL SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS

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.

VEGETABLE MELANGE AU GRATIN WITH CHEESE WHITE SAUCE

Steps:

• Start spinach cooking in microwave.
• In saucepan combine onions and carrots, cooking covered in small amount of boiling salted water until almost tender- 10 to 15 min; drain.
• While this is cooking you should make the white sauce, see below.
• When vegetables and sauce are done, alternate layers of hot, well-drained vegetables and sauce in 1-quart casserole; sprinkle with crumbs.
• Bake at 350* for about 20 minutes.
• Cheese Sauce with Medium White Sauce: Melt butter in sauce pan over low heat, blend in flour, salt and dash white pepper (black is fine).
• Add milk all at once, cooking quickly, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles and thickens, and add 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese.

BECHAMEL - BASIC WHITE SAUCE

Steps:

• Scald the milk with the onion, bay leaf and peppercorns.
• Cover and let infuse off heat for 10-15 minutes.
• In a heavy based saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour and cook, stirring, until the flour is foaming but not browned- about 1 minute.
• Off heat, strain in the hot milk.
• Whisk well, then bring to a boil, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens.
• season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and leave to simmer slowly for 1-2 minutes.
• NOTE: This make what is called a "MEDIUM" Bechamel.
• For a "THIN" Bechamel use 2 tbs. butter and 2 tbs. flour.
• For a "THICK" Bechamel use 4 tbs. butter and 4 tbs. flour.

BASIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

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.

BASIC WHITE SAUCE

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.

BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE SAUCE)

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).

BECHAMEL (WHITE SAUCE)

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.