Best 7 Basic White Sauce With Variations Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Unveiling the Culinary Canvas of White Sauce: A Journey Through Classic and Creative Variations**

In the realm of culinary arts, few sauces command as much versatility and global appeal as the classic white sauce. This culinary chameleon, also known as béchamel sauce, forms the foundation for countless dishes, ranging from the comforting lasagna and macaroni and cheese to the elegant chicken à la king and creamy Alfredo pasta. Its ability to seamlessly blend with various ingredients, accentuating their flavors without overpowering them, has made it a staple in kitchens worldwide.

This article embarks on a culinary odyssey, delving into the intricacies of the basic white sauce recipe before presenting an array of enticing variations that cater to diverse palates and preferences. From the traditional béchamel, crafted with milk, butter, and flour, to its enriched cousin, velouté sauce, made with flavorful stocks, each variation promises a unique taste experience.

For those seeking a vegan alternative, the dairy-free white sauce, conjured using plant-based milk and margarine, offers a creamy and satisfying substitute. Those with a penchant for bold flavors can explore the piquant white wine sauce, infused with the essence of white wine, shallots, and garlic.

The culinary journey continues with the delectable cheese sauce, a luscious blend of white sauce and grated cheese, perfect for smothering vegetables, pasta, or chicken. For a touch of sophistication, the Mornay sauce beckons with its Gruyère and Parmesan cheese infusion, adding a nutty and complex dimension to any dish.

Should your culinary compass point towards lighter fare, the ethereal whipped white sauce, lightened with whipped cream, promises an airy and delicate texture. Rounding out the repertoire is the versatile cream sauce, a simple yet elegant combination of white sauce and cream, ready to elevate the simplest of dishes.

Join us as we embark on this culinary adventure, discovering the nuances of each white sauce variation and unlocking the secrets to creating delectable dishes that will tantalize taste buds and leave an indelible mark on your culinary repertoire.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

WHITE SAUCE



White Sauce image

This white sauce, also known as Béchamel sauce, is one of France's four "mother sauces," and it's a perfect complement to many dishes. Pair it with vegetables, turn it into a creamy casserole or ladle it over seafood or sliced chicken.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Condiment

Time 10m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup milk

Steps:

  • In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat.
  • Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 25, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 tablespoon, Sodium 55 mg, Sugar 0 g, TransFat 0 g

BASIC WHITE SAUCE



Basic White Sauce image

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

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Dash white pepper
1 cup 2% milk

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.

MAGIC WHITE SAUCE (AND VARIATIONS)



Magic White Sauce (and Variations) image

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

2 cups milk (low fat or non-fat milk works fine)
100 g butter or 100 g margarine, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

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 With Variations image

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

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups warm milk
salt
white pepper
2 cups well-flavored chicken stock
1 cup shredded cheese, of choice

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

WHITE SAUCE



White Sauce image

Our Test Kitchen's White Sauce enhances many kinds of veggies. In the photo on the opposite page, we topped cooked broccoli florets with the Lemon Chive Sauce variation.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 20m

Yield 2/3 cup.

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
3/4 cup milk

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Nutrition Facts :

WHITE SAUCE



White Sauce image

I learned to make white sauce in Home Ec too many years ago to count. It can be used as a base for lots of dishes. I use it for macaroni and cheese for my granddaughter.

Provided by CJO

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 3

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir until the butter and flour are well combined. Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens. Add more milk depending on desired consistency.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 47.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.9 g, Cholesterol 10.1 mg, Fat 3.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 33 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

BASIC WHITE SAUCE AND VARIATIONS



Basic White Sauce and Variations image

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

2 c Milk or Butter Milk
1/4 stick Butter (Optional)
2 Tbsp Bacon Grease Or Breakfast Sausage Grease (Optional)
3 Tbsp Corn Starch heaping
dash(es) Salt and Pepper to taste

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.

Tips:

  • For a gluten-free sauce, use gluten-free flour or cornstarch as the thickening agent.
  • To make a vegan sauce, use plant-based milk and butter or oil instead of dairy.
  • To add flavor to the sauce, you can add herbs, spices, or vegetables.
  • If you want a thinner sauce, add more milk or cream.
  • If you want a thicker sauce, cook it for longer or add more flour or cornstarch.
  • Serve the sauce immediately or store it in the refrigerator for later use.

Conclusion:

White sauce is a versatile and delicious sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a creamy, flavorful sauce that will elevate any dish. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy way to add flavor to your meal, give white sauce a try.

Related Topics