Best Mornay Sauce Recipes

CLASSIC MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the roux is pale yellow and frothy, about 1 minute. Do not allow the roux to brown. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens and comes to a boil, about 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Allow to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. This is now called a bechamel sauce, and may be used as is to top any number of dishes.
• Stir in the cheese and whisk until melted. If the sauce seems to thick, thin with a little milk.
• The sauce is now called a Mornay Sauce. Pour over steamed vegetables and serve immediately. If not using right away, cool, cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several days.

CRAB-STUFFED FLOUNDER WITH MORNAY SAUCE AND GREEN BEANS ALMONDINE

Steps:

• For the green beans almondine: Place a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Working in batches (to avoid crowding the pot and slowing the return a boil), cook the green beans for about 3 minutes, or until al dente. With a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the green beans directly to an ice-filled bowl and shock to stop cooking. Drain well.
• Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until foaming and beginning to smell nutty. Add the blanched green beans and toss to coat. Add the toasted almonds and season with salt and pepper.
• For the Mornay sauce: Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and mix with a wooden spoon to make a roux--it should look like wet sand. Cook, stirring, for a couple minutes and then whisk in milk. Bring to a simmer, stirring and scraping the bottom and scorners of the pan, and cook for a few minutes. Season with some salt, pepper and nutmeg. Remove from the heat and add the Gruyere, stirring until fully melted and combined.
• For the crab-stuffed flounder: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, garlic and celery; cook until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with the vermouth and hot sauce to taste, and let cook for another minute. Pour the vegetables into a medium bowl and add the breadcrumbs, thyme and Old Bay; mix to combine. Gently fold in the crabmeat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Rinse and pat dry the flounder fillets and lay on a baking sheet. Spread the stuffing along half of each fillet and fold over to enclose. Dot evenly with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes
• Set the stuffed flounder on serving plates and top with Mornay sauce. Serve with the green beans on the side.

LOBSTER MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Slowly cook and stir mushrooms in the butter until tender. Mix in lobster meat. Cook until opaque. Remove mushrooms and lobster from saucepan and set aside.
• Reduce heat to low. Place flour in pan. Cook and stir approximately 2 minutes, then stir in chicken broth, heavy cream and pepper. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened.
• Stir mushrooms, lobster and Parmesan cheese into the sauce mixture. Continue cooking 5 minutes.

SOLE MORNAY (BAKED FISH WITH A WHITE CHEESE SAUCE)

Steps:

• If fillets are large, cut lengthwise in half.
• Roll up fish and secure with toothpicks.
• Place in shallow rectangular baking dish.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Cover with foil and bake in a preheated 400 F degree oven for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan.
• Blend in flour, bouillon mix and dry mustard.
• Gradually stir in the milk.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until it boils and thickens.
• Add both cheeses and stir until melted.
• Add salt and pepper and serve over the cooked and drained fish rolls.

HERBED SEAFOOD CREPES WITH MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• To Make Crepes:.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
• Add eggs and milk and whisk until smooth. Stir in butter and herbs.
• Batter should be consistency of thin cream. Let stand 30 minutes, then stir before using. Make crepes in a hot crepe pan or light nonstick pan filmed with butter, if needed. Stack crepes on waxed paper and let stand until ready to use, up to 2 hours, or wrap and freeze. Thaw at room temperature until they can be separated without tearing.
• To Make Sauce:.
• In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook briefly. Whisk in milk and stir until smooth and starting to thicken.
• In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk with cream. Spoon a little of the hot sauce into the egg yolk and combine, then stir yolk mixture back into the sauce.
• Season to taste with nutmeg, salt and pepper, then stir in 2 T each Parmesan and Gruyere. Stir in cooked seafood and cook briefly until heated.
• To Assemble:.
• Place one crepe on a heat-proof dinner plate and spoon seafood and sauce down the middle. Roll crepe and reapeat. Spoon a little extra sauce over the crepes and sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
• Repeat.
• Place plates under hot broiler until edges of crepes are starting to brown.
• Serve hot.

GREEN ONION-PARMESAN MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in green onion and parsley; cook until the green onion has softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 3 minutes more, stirring constantly.
• Pour in the cream, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Once the cream comes to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in the shredded Swiss and Parmesan cheeses. Slowly simmer, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

PORK TENDERLOIN NACHOS WITH MORNAY SAUCE, AVOCADO-CORN RELISH, CHARRED JALAPENO AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• For the tortilla chips: Heat oil in a deep fryer to 340 to 350 degrees F. Fry the tortillas, in batches, until firm. Drain on paper towels and season immediately with salt. For the new mexican rubbed pork tenderloin: Combine the ancho chili powder, sugar, pasilla chili powder, salt, allspice, chile de arbol, cinnamon and some black pepper in a small bowl. Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over high heat. Sprinkle the pork with salt on both sides, and then dredge in the spice rub, tapping off any excess. Sear the pork on all sides until golden brown, and then continue cooking to medium doneness or when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 135 to 140 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before thinly slicing. For the mornay sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 2 cups of the warm milk, bring to a boil and continue whisking until the sauce thickens and the flour taste has been cooked out, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the Monterey Jack a handful at a time. Continue whisking until smooth, adding more milk if too thick. Whisk in the Parmigiano-Reggiano and season with salt, black pepper and chile de arbol. Set aside. For the avocado-corn relish: Combine the avocado, corn, jalapeno, lime juice, onions and olive oil in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, and fold in the cilantro. For the charred jalapenos: Toss the jalapenos with the oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Char in a cast-iron pan over high heat or on a baking sheet in a 400 degrees F oven until the skin is charred on both sides. Let cool before slicing. For assembly: Arrange the tortilla chips on a large platter in a single layer. Top each chip with a heaping teaspoon of the avocado-corn relish, a slice of pork and some of the Mornay sauce. Garnish with the sliced charred jalapenos, pickled red onions, a dollop of the goat cheese and cilantro leaves.

MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat.
• Gradually stir in half-and-half and broth. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese, salt and red pepper; stir until cheese is melted.

CROQUE-MADAME, SAUCE MORNAY (GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH WITH A FRIED EGG AND MORNAY SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay out the bread slices. Divide the ham among them, making sure it doesn't extend over the edges of the bread. Place the cheese over the ham. If the cheese is larger than the bread, bend it over to fit.
• Heat 2 large ovenproof nonstick pans or griddles over medium heat. (If you have only 1 large pan, make 2 sandwiches and keep them warm in the oven while you make the second batch.) Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to each pan. When it has melted, add half the bread, cheese-side up to each pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Transfer the pans to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes to melt the cheese.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a large ovenproof skillet and fry the eggs. Cook the eggs until the bottoms are set, then place the skillet in the oven for a minute to set the top of the whites. (We cook the eggs in 4 to 5-inch individual skillets.)
• When the cheese is melted, remove the sandwiches from the oven. Place 2 slices together to make each sandwich and put each sandwich on a serving plate. Place an egg on top of each sandwich. Pour about 1/4 cup of the sauce over the white of each egg, leaving the yolk uncovered. Grind black pepper over each egg and garnish the eggs with a diagonal sprinkling of chopped parsley. Serve with frites, if desired.
• Combine the water and yeast in a small bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes, then stir until the yeast is completely dissolved. Set aside.
• Sift together the flours, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add the eggs and beat for 1 minute at low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Slowly add the dissolved yeast and continue beating at low speed for 5 minutes. Stop the machine, scrape any dough off the hook, and beat for another 5 minutes.
• Add about one-quarter of the butter cubes at a time, beating for about 1 minute after each addition. Once all the butter has been added, beat for 10 minutes more.
• Place the dough in a large floured bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place until doubled in size, about 3 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a generously floured work surface and gently work the air bubbles out by folding the dough over several times while lightly pressing down on it.
• Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• The dough is now ready to shape or use in another recipe. Generously butter two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. With floured hands, divide the dough in half and shape it into two rectangles that fit in the loaf pans. Place the dough in the pans.
• Let the dough rise uncovered in a warm place until it is about 1/2-inch above the top of the pans, about 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the brioche in the center of the oven until it is well browned on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the brioche from the oven and immediately turn out onto a wire rack.
• If serving immediately, let the breads cool for 10 minutes, then slice. If serving within a few hours, wrap the hot bread in aluminum foil and set aside at room temperature until ready to use. To freeze, wrap the hot bread in foil and promptly freeze. The bread can be kept frozen for up to 1 month; when ready to use, reheat (without thawing and still wrapped in the foil) in a 250 degree F oven until heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• If using the brioche for croutons, let sit at room temperature uncovered to dry for a day.
• Melt the butter in a medium heavy saucepan set on a diffuser over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly so that the roux doesn't burn or color. Whisking constantly, add the milk and cream and whisk until fully incorporated. Bring to a simmer, whisking, then add the bay leaf, peppercorns, and cloves. Move the pan to 1 side of the diffuser, away from direct heat to avoid scorching, and bring back to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, reaching into the corners of the pan, for about 30 minutes. (If the sauce does begin to scorch, pour it into a clean pan--don't scrape the bottom of the pan--and continue.)
• Remove the sauce from the heat and season to taste with salt, a grating of nutmeg, and a pinch of white pepper. Strain the sauce, add the cheese, and whisk to melt. Use immediately, or place in a storage container, press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to keep a skin from forming, and refrigerate for up to a week. If the sauce is too thick after refrigeration, it can be thinned with a little heavy cream.

CHICKEN CREPES IN SHERRIED MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook chicken in water with the celery, onion, and bay leaf until it is done, about 35-45 minutes. Remove from the stock and cool.
• Remove meat from the bones, discarding the skin anhd chop into bite sized pieces. Reserve stock for another use after defatting it.
• While chicken is cooking,saute the green onions and mushrooms in the butter until just tender.
• Add well-drained spinach,undiluted soup.chicken,and seasonings and mix well until totally blended.
• Place a heaping spoonful of the mixture in the center of each crepe and roll.
• Place in a shallow oven-proof dish, seam side down.
• Cover with the sherried mornay sauce, sprinkle the top with the parmesean cheese and paprika and bake until hot, about 20-30 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
• Crepes can be filled, quick-frozen on cookie sheets, then transfered to plastic bags for freezer storage. Do not freeze the sauce.
• This dish can also be prepared early in the day ( sauce and all), covered, and refrigerated. If refrigerated, cover with foil and bake for about 35 minutes; remove foil and bake about 10 minutes longer until sauce is bubbling.
• A serving is two crepes per person.
• Sherried Mornay Sauce:.
• Make a white roux with the butter and flour.
• Add milk and whisk over medium heat.
• Boil 1 minute, whisking constantly.
• Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, cream, and sherry.
• Bring to a simmer while whisking, and add cheese and nutmeg.Whisk until cheese is completely melted, then remove from heat.
• Pour sauce over crepes and top with a sprinkling of parmesean and paprika.
• Serve with any extra sauce.

MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, 1/2 cup at a time. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook, stirring constantly for 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the and whisk in the cheese. Serve hot

MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make a Bechamel sauce as follows: Heat clarified butter in medium size saucepan.
• Whisk in bread flour and stir and cook over low heat until light cream color, but at least 1 minute.
• Cool slightly.
• In another saucepan, scald the milk.
• Gradually add milk to the roux (flour and butter mixture) beating constantly with whisk.
• Bring sauce to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Stick the bay leaf to the onion with the clove.
• Place onion in sauce.
• Simmer at least 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Season very lightly with salt, nutmeg and white pepper.
• Strain through a china cap.
• Place plastic wrap on sauce to prevent formation of skin.
• Cool in cold water bath and store in freezer in ziplock bags for later use, or keep warm over warm water bath for use in dishes being currently prepared.
• To 1 qt of the bechamel over low heat add the gruyere and parmesan cheeses, stirring in until just melted.
• Remove from heat and gently stir in the 2 oz raw butter.
• Thin out with the hot milk or stock appropriate to the dish being served if necessary.

SAUCE MORNAY (CHEESE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan (a five-cup saucepan is suitable). Add the flour, stirring with a wire whisk.
• When blended, add the milk, stirring rapidly with the whisk. Continue stirring vigorously until the sauce is thickened.
• Add the cheese and stir over low heat until the cheese melts. Once the cheese melts do not cook further. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and Tabasco.

SALMON WITH MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle salmon with 1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper. In a large skillet, cook salmon in 2 tablespoons butter for 4-6 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt remaining butter. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne and remaining lemon-pepper until blended. Gradually add milk and cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Serve with salmon.

CRAB AND SHRIMP CREPES WITH MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make crepes---------.
• Combine all ingredients (except for cooking oil) for crepes in a bowl and blend with a whisk until smooth.
• Cover batter and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat cooking oil in pan.
• Add 2 tablespoons of batter and cook until lightly browned on bottom side (about 1 1/2 minutes).
• Turn and cook other side.
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Place crepes between pieces of waxed paper to keep from sticking together.
• Set aside.
• Prepare crepe mixture and Mornay Sauce Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• For Mornay sauce-----------.
• In a small saucepan, melt butter and blend in Flour.
• Stir in milk.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.
• Add cheese and blend well.
• Add egg yolk mixture and blend well.
• Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• For Crepe mixture----------.
• Butter a large shallow baking dish.
• In a skillet melt 4 tablespoons of butter and sauté onions and mushrooms until tender.
• Stir in seafood.
• Add 3/4 cup of Mornay Sauce, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Stir together until heated through.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of mixture into middle of crepe and roll up.
• Place seam side down in buttered baking dish.
• Repeat with remaining crepes.
• Top with remaining sauce and Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes until sauce is warm and bubbly.

BLACKENED TILAPIA WITH SHRIMP IN MORNAY WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Season the fish with blackening seasoning on both sides.
• Heat a cast iron pan and spray with a non stick spray.
• Once pan is hot enough sear each side for about 2 minute.
• In another large sauté pan, melt the butter and sauté fresh garlic over medium heat. When garlic is soft but not brown, add heavy cream, shrimp and the Dijon mustard.
• When the shrimp are cooked, add Boursin cheese and wine. Let the sauce thicken. Season with salt and pepper and the lemon juice.
• Plate the tilapia, adding minced parsley to the sauce just before serving. Spoon sauce over half of the fish.

CRAB AND CHILE RAVIOLI WITH MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• For the crab and chile filling: Heat the butter and olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the jalapeno, Fresno chile and shallots; season with salt and pepper. Let sweat for about 5 to 7 minutes, adding the garlic during the last couple minutes. Raise the heat to medium, add the sherry (to deglaze the pan) and let bubble until almost evaporated. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Add the crab, herbs and chile-shallot mixture to a medium bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.
• For the Mornay sauce: Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and mix with a wooden spoon for a few minutes to make a roux (it should look like wet sand). Whisk in the milk, making sure to scrape the corners of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper, and then remove from the heat. Add the Gruyere and stir until fully melted and combined. Add about a 1/4 cup of the Mornay sauce to the crab mixture to bind.
• For the ravioli: Place a sheet of pasta on a work surface. Fold it in half the wide/long way to make a slight crease down the middle, then lay back out flat. Place 1 to 2 tablespoon-size dollops of the crab mixture every few inches on one half of the pasta sheet. Brush a little water on the border of the pasta sheet and around each ravioli. Fold the top half of pasta sheet over to cover the filling, squeezing out as much air as possible (so they don't pop open in the water). Use a knife, pasta roller or ring cutter to cut out the ravioli. Dust with semolina and reserve on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pasta sheets and crab mixture.
• Bring a wide shallow pot of salted water to a boil.
• Warm the remaining Mornay sauce in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Use pasta water to thin to the desired consistency as needed.
• Cook the ravioli in the boiling water, in batches if necessary, until they float to the top, a few minutes. Transfer the ravioli straight into the skillet with the Mornay sauce and toss gently to coat. Place 3 to 5 ravioli on a plate and spoon a little more Mornay sauce on top. Garnish with the chopped herbs and lemon zest.

GNOCCHI WITH MORNAY CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• TO MAKE MORNAY SAUCE: Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add flour and stir for one minute. Add in 2 cups milk. Cook until thickened.
• Whisk in 3/4 cream to thin sauce and add 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
• TO MAKE GNOCCHI: In medium saucepan melt 1/3 cup butter in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk. When butter has melted, season with salt and pepper. Remove saucepan from heat and add in 1 cup all purpose flour all at once. Whisk until smooth.
• Return saucepan to heat and, with a wooden spoon, cook until the mixture sizzles and comes away from the sides of the pan. (This is called a panade). Transfer to a large bowl and immediately cover surface with plastic wrap so that a skin does not form. Cool to room temperature.
• When mixture has cooled, add the eggs, one at a time. Do not add the next egg until the first is entirely absorbed. When the eggs have been fully incorporated add 3 1/2 ounces grated Gruyere cheese.
• BOILED VERSION: Bring water to a boil. Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a 3/4 inch tip with gnocchi mixture. Rest metal tip of pastry bag on edge of pan and press the dough out. As 1/2 inch of gnocchi dough emerges, cut with a knife or scissors and let the dough fall into the water.
• Do in batches of 20 or 30. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then remove gnocchi to a cloth towel with a slotted spoon (gnocchi will deflate as they cool). Serve sauce over cooked gnocchi.
• BAKED VERSION: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put some Mornay on bottom of a shallow 9x13 casserole dish. Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a 3/4 inch tip with gnocchi mixture. As 1/2 inch of gnocchi dough emerges, cut with a knife or scissors. Arrange gnocchi in one or, at most, two layers.
• Spread remaining sauce over top, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle top with 1/4 cup grated Gruyere. Bake for 45 minutes or until gnocchi have swollen up again and absorbed sauce. Serve immediately before gnocchi deflate.

TRIPLE CHEESE GNOCCHI IN A MUSHROOM MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• For the gnocchi, pare and steam the potatoes until they are fork tender. Puree.
• Blend the cheeses together.
• Blend the cheeses, potatoes and eggs together. Add the flour very slowly, mixing in after each addition. You want a very soft dough, not too stiff with flour or the gnocchi will be heavy and tough.
• Knead, creating a soft dough. Mold the dough into teaspoon size pieces. Place on a floured, inverted fork and press slightly. The tines will make ridges to help the sauce cling to the gnocchi.
• Start a large kettle of salted water to a rolling boil. While waiting on the water to boil, begin the mornay sauce.
• Heat the butter in a sauce pan and add the mushrooms, saute until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the flour and cook 2 minutes over low heat, adding drops of chicken broth as needed to keep from being too dry while cooking. Stir in the chicken broth and half & half. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Stir in the cheese and simmer for 2 more minutes. Keep sauce warm over very, very low heat.
• Drop the gnocchi into the salted boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes after the dumplings begin floating. Drain and place in large serving bowl. Top and toss with Mornay Sauce.

BACON MORNAY SAUCE

Steps:

• Fry bacon.
• Remove bacon from pan; add butter.
• Add flour; purists say don't brown flour but I do because I don't like a raw flour taste, and I cook on high (sigh).
• Add milk.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook until thickened.
• Add cheese. crumble up bacon and add here.