Best Besciamella Recipes

LASAGNA ALLA BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• To make the meat ragu: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until soft and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Add the ground beef, sausage, salt, basil, Italian seasoning, oregano and pepper to taste and increase the heat to high. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned all over. Add the tomatoes. Pour some of the wine into the empty tomato boxes to rinse out the last bits of tomatoes and add to the pot, along with the remaining wine. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the sauce thickens and the flavors come together, about 1 hour. Add a healthy amount of black pepper.
• To make the besciamella: Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, then turn off the heat. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour to the butter and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and then loosens again, about 2 minutes. Add the hot milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil. Add the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook, whisking almost constantly, for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and use immediately.
• To make the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread an even layer of the meat ragu over the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce lengthwise across the short side of the pan. Avoid overlapping or allowing them to touch the sides of the pan because they will expand as they cook. Press down slightly to let the sauce spread around them. Cover with one-quarter of the besciamella and sprinkle with one-third of the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Add another layer of ragu. Add 3 more noodles, arranging them in the opposite direction from the first layer and breaking 1 of the noodles in half if necessary to fit. Add one-quarter of the besciamella and half of the mozzarella. Make a third layer of ragu, noodles (alternating directions again), besciamella and one-third of the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Add another layer of ragu, then the remaining mozzarella, noodles (alternating the noodles again), besciamella and ragu.
• Cover the pan with foil and bake until heated through, about 35 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is brown and bubbling, about 20 minutes more. During the last 10 minutes of baking, scatter the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano all over. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving.

WHITE LASAGNE WITH PARMIGIANO BESCIAMELLA (LASAGNE IN BIANCO )

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Cook shallots in butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add flour and cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, 3 minutes. Add nutmeg, then slowly whisk in milk and stock. Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, stirring occasionally, just until sauce lightly coats back of spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool to warm, stirring occasionally. Stir in eggs, Marsala, sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup cheese.
• Spread about 1 1/4 cups sauce over bottom of an 11- by 8-inch baking dish. Cover with a layer of 3 lasagne sheets. Repeat layering 3 more times, then top with remaining sauce and remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, until browned, 45 to 55 minutes.

BESCIAMELLA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat butter in a medium saucepan until melted.
• Add flour, stirring until smooth.
• Cook gently over medium heat until light golden brown, 6-7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a separate pan until almost boiling.
• Add milk to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth.
• If lumps begin to form, you need to adjust the heat up a bit higher.
• Bring to a boil, and cook for 30 seconds, continuing to stir.
• Remove from the heat and season with salt and nutmeg.
• Note: After I had brought it to a boil and let it cook for 30 seconds, it was still too liquidy.
• I continued to cook it over high heat, stirring constantly, until it thickened down, and began to coat the back of the spoon.

BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Cook's Note: This is an important moment, as you have to slowly toast the flour without burning it. This will help you lose the flowery taste.
• Warm up the milk and gradually ladle into the pot with the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

BASIC WHITE SAUCE - SALSA DI BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over med-low heat. Do not let the butter brown.
• Whisk in the flour, and cook it until a uniform paste is formed, and no streaks of flour remain.
• Slowly whisk in the milk in a steady stream.
• Cook about 10 minutes, stirring slowly until the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon.
• Season with salt and pepper.

BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook for 1½-2 minutes, stirring con- stantly with a wooden spoon to prevent it from taking on any color whatsoever. Gradually add the hot milk in a slow, steady stream, stirring constantly with a whisk to prevent lumps. Increase the heat to medium and cook the sauce, stirring con- stantly with a wooden spoon, until it has the consistency of very thick cream, 10-15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Stir in the cheese, if using, and season with nutmeg and salt to taste. Strain the sauce through a sieve if it is lumpy. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the besciamella to keep it warm until ready to use and to prevent a skin from forming.

WHITE LASAGNE WITH PARMIGIANO BESCIAMELLA (LASAGNE IN BIANCO )

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Cook shallots in butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes.
• Add flour and cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, 3 minutes. Add nutmeg, then slowly whisk in milk and stock.
• Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, stirring occasionally, just until sauce lightly coats back of spoon, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and cool to warm, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in eggs, Marsala, sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup cheese.
• Spread about 1 1/4 cups sauce over bottom of an 11- by 8-inch baking dish.
• Cover with a layer of 3 lasagne sheets. Repeat layering 3 more times, then top with remaining sauce and remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, until browned, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Cooks' note: Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered (once cool).

BASIC CREAM SAUCE (BESCIAMELLA)

Steps:

• In a 2-qt. saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not let the mixture brown. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and bring just to a simmer, whisking frequently. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking often, until the sauce has thickened to a creamy, gravy-like consistency and no longer tastes of raw flour, 6 to 8 minutes for a single batch, 10 to 12 minutes for a double batch. Remove from the heat and whisk in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. If not using right away, transfer to a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the sauce to keep a skin from forming. Plan to use the sauce within 30 minutes because it thickens if it's left to sit for too long. If that should happen, add a little warm milk and whisk well to thin it.

BESCIAMELLA - BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the milk on low heat making sure that it doesn't boil.
• In another small saucepan melt the butter. (Be carefull: do not let it brown.).
• Slowly add the sifted flour, stirring with a whisk. Cook it for a few minutes, stirring constantly, always being carefull don't let it brown or crispy.
• That's the "roux", as the French call it.
• Now remove it from the heat, slowly add the hot milk, stirring with a wooden spoon.
• Put the saucepan on medium heat, until it boils, add a pinch of salt and a pinch of nutmeg. Then simmer for 15 minutes while covered, or until the sauce doesn't look thick, stirring from time to time.
• Your Bechamel Sauce is ready!

BESCIAMELLA (CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add flour and cook the roux, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until there are no lumps and it is pale gold in color. Pour in the milk and cream slowly, stirring with the whisk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and cook until the sauce is thick enough to coat the wires of the whisk heavily. Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper. Set aside.

BECHAMEL: BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Cook's Note: This is an important moment, as you have to slowly toast the flour without burning it. This will help you lose the flowery taste.
• Warm up the milk and gradually ladle into the pot with the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

BESCIAMELLA (CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• * This recipe for cream sauce and the recipe for Salsa Di Pomodori (tomato sauce) are used with the Cannelloni recipe from the World Gourmet Calendar. To make Cannelloni, you will need both sauce recipes: In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderate heat. Add 6 tablespoons of flour and cook the roux stirring constantly with a whisk. Pour in milk and cream slowly stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook until sauce is thick enough to coat the wires of the whisk heavily. Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper. Reserve.

BESCIAMELLA

Steps:

• Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. This is an important moment, as you have to slowly toast the flour without burning it. This will help you lose the flowery taste. 2 Warm up the milk and gradually ladle into the pot with the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes. 3 Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk, if too runny, return to the heat and add a pat of butter mixed with an equal amount of all-purpose flour. The most important thing though is: besciamella should not taste floury. If you think your sauce is ready, but you can spot a hint of "flouriness" when you taste it, think again, and keep on cooking it for a few minutes more.