Best Basic Bechamel White Sauce With Variations Including Au Gratin Recipes

MAGIC WHITE SAUCE (AND VARIATIONS)

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 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.

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.

BECHAMEL SAUCE FOR ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute shallots in butter over medium heat until translucent, without browning, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Mix; reduce heat as much as possible.
• Add flour in thirds, whisking constantly. When fully incorporated, cook without browning, 3 to 5 minutes, until floury taste is gone.
• Add milk in thirds, whisking constantly. Texture should be thick with no lumps. Add bay leaf; continue to cook 7 to 10 minutes.
• Strain through a sieve; add cheese while bechamel is still hot. Adjust seasoning to taste. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of sauce, and refrigerate up to three days.

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 (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.

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 (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).