Best Basic White Sauce And Variations 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 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).

BASIC WHITE SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS

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.