Best Basic Béchamel Sauce With Lots Of Flavour Recipes

BéCHAMEL

Steps:

• Put the milk in a glass measuring cup and microwave until just warm, about 1 minute.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk until combined. Continue to whisk until the mixture bubbles a bit, but does not brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Gradually pour in the warm milk while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, whisking often and occasionally running a rubber spatula around the edges of the saucepan to prevent burning. When the sauce is boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until thickened to a nice coating consistency, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the Parmesan, if using, and stir until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

CLASSIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Use or store the sauce: Use immediately or pour into a storage container. Spread the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter over the surface of the hot sauce to keep a skin from forming. Cool the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes before storing. Refrigerate, tightly covered, up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months.

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 BéCHAMEL SAUCE WITH LOTS OF FLAVOUR

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine milk, onion, peppercorns and laurel leaf. Bring to a boil, then take off the heat and let steep for 20 minutes.
• Strain milk through a sieve. If using this sauce in my pasta gratin recipe, keep the onion, if not discard onion with the laurel leaf and peppercorns.
• In a second saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk in using a wire whisk. Let colour for 1 minute whisking continuously.
• Slowly add the 1/3 of the milk whisking it in so that no lumps form. When sauce looks thickened, add another 1/3 of the milk. Keep whisking and finally add the last third.
• Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and a good pinch of nutmeg.
• If you dont use the sauce right away, cover it so that the milk doesnt form a skin on top.

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.