Best 6 White Sauce Variations Recipes

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White sauce, a versatile culinary staple, forms the foundation of many delectable dishes, from creamy pasta to hearty casseroles. Its simple yet adaptable nature allows for endless variations, each adding a unique flavor profile to various culinary creations. This article presents an exquisite collection of white sauce recipes, each tailored to suit diverse preferences and dietary requirements. From the classic Béchamel sauce, renowned for its velvety texture, to the tangy Alfredo sauce, known for its cheesy indulgence, these recipes cater to every palate. Be it a traditional Mornay sauce, a rich and flavorful addition to seafood dishes, or a delightful Mushroom sauce, bursting with umami goodness, this compilation offers a symphony of flavors that will transform ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences. Embrace the culinary adventure, explore the diverse recipes within, and discover the transformative power of white sauce in elevating everyday cooking to culinary artistry.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE) SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS INCLUDING AU GRATIN



Basic Bechamel (White) Sauce With Variations Including Au Gratin image

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

1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, cream or 1 cup stock
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, cream or 1 cup stock
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, cream or 1 cup stock
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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



Easy White Sauce (With Variations) for the Microwave image

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

1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup milk
1/2-3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 -2 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 dash Worcestershire sauce

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)



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 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.

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 VARIATIONS RECIPE - (4.5/5)



White Sauce Variations Recipe - (4.5/5) image

Provided by GratefulSea

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 Tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 to 1-1/2 cups milk
salt and freshly ground black pepper

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:

  • Choose the right cheese: Different cheeses offer different flavors and textures, so pick one that will complement the other ingredients in your sauce. For a classic white sauce, a mild cheese like Gruyère or mozzarella is a good choice. For a richer, more flavorful sauce, try using a sharp cheddar or Parmesan.
  • Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better your sauce will taste. If possible, use freshly grated cheese, fresh herbs, and fresh vegetables.
  • Don't overcook the sauce: White sauce can easily overcook and become thick and gloppy. Cook it over low heat and stir constantly until it reaches the desired consistency.
  • Season to taste: Always taste your sauce before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.
  • Serve immediately: White sauce is best served immediately after it is made. It can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, but it will lose its flavor and texture over time.

Conclusion:

White 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 pasta, vegetables, and meat. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a delicious white sauce that will impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy way to add flavor to your meal, give white sauce a try. You won't be disappointed.

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