Basic Bechamel White Sauce With Variations Including Au Gratin Recipes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).