Bechamel Sauce also called White Sauce or cream sauce is a thick, creamy, and silky smooth sauce. It is one of the five mother sauces of French Cuisine and is also used in most Italian recipes. This simple White Sauce is usually made with butter, flour, milk, and basic seasonings. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Bechamel Sauce with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home.
I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe to make the process simple and clear. This homemade Bechamel Sauce is used to make the best pasta, pizza, lasagna, casserole, souffle, and similar other dishes.
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What is Bechamel Sauce?
Bechamel Sauce or White Sauce is one of the Five Mother Sauces of French Cuisine. It is usually made with simple ingredients like butter, flour, and milk. The butter and all-purpose flour are used to make a roux and then the milk is added to make a classic creamy sauce. Finally, some basic seasonings and dried herbs are added to enhance the flavor profile of the sauce.
This Bechamel Sauce is widely used in Italian pasta, pizza, lasagna, or classic French Casserole, Souffle, and similar other dishes. You can also use this white sauce creatively in soups, pies, or even on your baked veggies.
I have made this sauce with extra veggies and flavorings for my White Sauce Pasta that is already up in this blog. If you are interested please feel free to check it to try and enjoy a filling pasta meal.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Bechamel Sauce are basic pantry elements that you might already have at your home. If not don't worry it should be easily available in most supermarkets around. So let's see what are they below.
- Butter - Salted or unsalted butter both works well here. But if you are planning to use salted butter then I would recommend keeping an eye while adding salt to your sauce
- All-Purpose Flour - To make the roux. plain white flour is the best for making perfect roux which will deliver a perfectly silky smooth sauce in return
- Milk - Whole milk for a thick and creamy texture of the sauce
- Basic Seasonings - I have used black pepper powder and salt for the seasoning. But you can feel free to add additional seasonings like basil leaves, chili flakes, dried garlic powder, and other Italian herbs
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Bechamel Sauce?
The recipe I have shared here is the basic Bechamel Sauce also called White Sauce or cream sauce. I have used simple and basic seasonings here but you can also customize it according to your preferences. Please check out the tips section below for more ideas and variations.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Melt the Butter - In a pan with medium heat, add the butter and allow it to melt
- Stir in the Flour - Add 2 tsp of all-purpose flour and mix well without forming lumps. And stir continuously until it turns fragrant
- Pour the Milk - Pour 2 cups of milk and mix well until it turns thick using a hand whisk or spatula
- Simmer and Season - Simmer the heat and season with black pepper powder and salt
- Creamy White Sauce - Now the creamy Bechamel Sauce also called white sauce is ready for you to use in your recipes
- Use in Recipes - Use this silky smooth Bechamel Sauce in pasta, pizza, lasagna, or on your favorite veggies for a delicious meal
Tips
- Roasting the flour - Always make sure to roast the flour until fragrant to achieve an aromatic and flavorful sauce. And keep an eye out that the flour doesn't get burnt
- Temperature - I would always suggest roasting the flour and whisking in the milk in medium heat to avoid the sauce burning at the bottom. If you feel like the bottom is burning, just pull off the pan from the heat for a few seconds and continue to stir the milk. Keep back the pan on the stove once the pan completely cools down and resume cooking
- Seasoning - This Bechamel Sauce that I have shared here is the basic white sauce and so I have seasoned it only with black pepper and salt. But you can also add dried garlic powder, chili flakes, parsley, thyme, basil leaves, and other dried or fresh Italian seasonings
- For Extra Creaminess - Adding mozzarella or parmesan cheese gives extra creaminess and cheesy texture to your sauce. You can also use heavy cream instead of milk for a richer white sauce
- Serving Suggestions - This sauce can be used in making most pasta recipes, pizza, lasagna, casserole, or even on veggies
Serving Suggestions
This Sauce can be served with most types of pasta like angel hair, rotini, penne, and similar others for a delicious pasta meal. You can also add this sauce as a base sauce for pizza, lasagna, casserole, or souffle recipes.
Storage Suggestions
This Bechamel Sauce stays good in the refrigerator for a day in a closed airtight container. But I would always recommend making this sauce as fresh as possible for a comforting meal. Plus it takes just under 15 minutes to make it from scratch.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar recipes below and more at sauce recipes.
More pasta recipes:
Bechamel Sauce Recipe video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Bechamel Sauce Recipe which is also called White Sauce below and I hope it will help you to make the best sauce at home. And you could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Bechamel Sauce (White Sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Milk
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 2 tsp All Purpose Flour
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- Salt, as needed
Instructions
To make Bechamel Sauce (White Sauce)
- In a pan with medium heat, add the butter and allow it to melt
- Add 2 tsp of all-purpose flour and mix well without forming lumps. And stir continuously until it turns fragrant
- Pour 2 cups of milk and mix well until it turns thick using a hand whisk or spatula
- Simmer the heat and season with black pepper powder and salt
- Now the creamy Bechamel Sauce also called white sauce is ready for you to use in your recipes
To Serve
- Use this silky smooth Bechamel Sauce in pasta, pizza, lasagna, or on your favorite veggies for a delicious meal
Video
Notes
- Roasting the flour - Always make sure to roast the flour until fragrant to achieve an aromatic and flavorful sauce
- Temperature - I would always suggest roasting the flour and whisking in the milk in medium heat to avoid the sauce burning at the bottom. If you feel like the bottom is burning, just pull off the pan from the heat for a few seconds and continue to stir the milk. Keep back the pan on the stove once the pan completely cools down and resume cooking
- Seasoning - This Bechamel Sauce that I have shared here is the basic white sauce and so I have seasoned it only with black pepper and salt. But you can also add dried garlic powder, chili flakes, parsley, thyme, basil leaves, and other dried or fresh Italian seasonings
- For Extra Creaminess - Adding mozzarella or parmesan cheese gives extra creaminess and cheesy texture to your sauce. You can also use heavy cream instead of milk for a richer white sauce
- Serving Suggestions - This sauce can be used in making most pasta recipes, pizza, lasagna, casserole, or even on veggies
Nutrition
FAQ
Bechamel Sauce or White Sauce is one of the Five Mother Sauces of French Cuisine. It is usually made with simple ingredients like butter, flour, and milk. The butter and all-purpose flour are used to make a roux and then the milk is added to make a classic creamy sauce. Finally, some basic seasonings and dried herbs are added to enhance the flavor profile of the sauce. It is widely used in Italian pasta, pizza, lasagna, or classic French Casserole, Souffle, and similar other dishes. You can also use this white sauce creatively in soups, pies, or even on your baked veggies.
There is no difference between the sauces. Usually, Bechamel Sauce is also called white sauce or cream sauce made with basic ingredients like butter, flour, and milk.
Usually, basic Bechamel Sauce does not call for cheese but if you really like adding it then feel free to add mozzarella, parmesan cheese, or similar others.
It is a thick and creamy versatile sauce that adapts to the taste of the seasonings we use. For example, if you are using black pepper, basil leaves, and other Italian herbs then the taste depends on those seasoning's flavors.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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