How to Make a Basic White Sauce (Béchamel) (2024)

FAQs

What is the basic formula for béchamel sauce? ›

The Basic Béchamel Ratio

The basic ratio for a classic béchamel is 3 ounces of fat (butter, ghee, coconut oil) to 3 ounces of all-purpose flour for the roux. This ratio of roux will thicken up to a quart of milk, but you can use less milk for a thicker sauce, as we do below.

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.

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour to form a thick paste; cook and stir until golden in color, about 5 to 7 minutes. Whisk in 1 cup milk; cook and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes more. Add more milk to reach desired consistency.

If you only have bread, cake, or pastry flour, they should work in the white sauce because the primary difference is the gluten content. Even better is a combination of bread and cake flours (essentially making all-purpose flour).

The main ingredients used in sauce making are, flour or thickening agent, fat, liquid and flavourings. Generally, a soft flour with a low gluten content is used, for example plain flour and cornflour. When flour is mixed with a liquid and heated in a sauce the mixture will thicken. This is known as gelatinisation.

Béchamel – milk-based sauce, thickened with a white roux. Beurre blanc – Reduction of butter, vinegar, white wine and shallots.

The term “white sauce” is a more general term that is sometimes used to refer to any white-coloured sauce, while “béchamel sauce” specifically refers to the white sauce made from a roux and milk. However, the two terms are often used interchangeably. In most cases, they refer to the same sauce.

Ready in 20 minutes! Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze. PS: this recipe makes about 1 quart of sauce which is perfect for a 5+ layer lasagna using 1/2 cup per layer. Béchamel sauce (also known as “besciamella” in Italian), is a creamy 3-ingredient white sauce made from butter, flour and milk.

For quick recipes, gratins or a helping hand, you can count on the ready-made béchamel, with flour, butter and French milk! You can already smell the smell of a good gratin or a gourmet croque-monsieur.

What are the three types of white sauces? ›

It's easy to get lost when it comes to the creamy sauces of French cuisine. Learn the difference between a classic roux, béchamel, and mornay.

Remember, though, that béchamel is so easy and forgiving, even if you get the ratio wrong, it's incredibly easy to fix: If yours comes out too thick, just whisk in more milk until the desired consistency is reached; if it's too thin, either simmer it down, allowing evaporation to thicken the sauce up, or cook a little ...

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Roux is made by cooking equal parts flour and fat together until the raw flavor of the flour cooks out and the roux has achieved the desired color. Butter is the most commonly used fat, but you can also make roux with oil, bacon grease, or other rendered fats.

Melt 1 part butter or fat in a skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Then sprinkle in 1 part flour. Stir the butter and flour constantly with a wooden spoon in a figure-eight motion for even cooking. In 3 to 5 minutes, you'll have a light roux that should puff slightly.

Roux is a combination of flour and fat that is cooked and used as a base to thicken and flavor sauces. The method for making roux uses 1 part oil or fat to 1 part flour, whisked constantly over heat until it reaches an optimal shade of color—ranging from white to dark brown.

Béchamel is made by thickening hot milk with a simple white roux. The sauce is then flavored with onion, cloves and nutmeg and simmered until it is creamy and velvety smooth.