Balsamella Sauce
We love a good white sauce and this Balsamella Sauce recipe is the Italian equivalent of the French Béchamel Sauce (white sauce) that we all know and love, but with the addition of Italian grated cheese.
You can use either a good shredded Parmesan cheese or a mix of Parmigiano-reggiano. This is one recipe you don’t want to skimp on the cheese. Try a fresh block of cheese and grate yourself.
Ingredients Needed For Balsamella Sauce
Butter – use fresh salted butter
Flour – white all-purpose flour
Milk – whole milk – heat the milk until warm or use at room temperature
Grated Cheese – use a freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. Can also use a good Parmigiano-reggiano
Nutmeg
Salt
Balsamella is a delicious white sauce
- 8 tablespoons Butter
- 8 tablespoons Flour
- 3 cups Whole milk warm
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
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Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
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Sprinkle the flour into the sauce pan and whisk until smooth.
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Cook, stirring constantly, about 3-4 minutes.
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Slowly pour in milk, stirring constantly with a wire whisk.
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Bring to a light simmer, stir in the salt and cook for about 10 minutes.
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Remove from the heat and stir in the grated cheese and nutmeg.
Simple Steps to Making A Delicious Balsamella Sauce
It only takes a few ingredients to make this delicious white sauce. Here is melted butter with flour.
- Melt the butter over medium heat.
- Sprinkle flour into the melted butter.
3. Using a wire whisk, slowly add the flour to the melted butter. Continue whisking until there are no clumps or lumps.
Best Balsamella Sauce Tip: When adding the flour, continue a constant whisking so there are no clumps. Don’t have the heat too high.
Confused on Sauces? Brief Explanation of the Main Sauces
Béchamel Sauce – simple white sauce made with butter, flour and milk. French Version of white sauce
Balsamella Sauce – same simple white sauce as the Béchamel made with butter, flour milk and added grated Italian cheese. Italian version of white sauce
Mornay Sauce is a Béchamel sauce with shredded or grated cheese added. Similar to a Balsamella sauce but can have added cheddar cheese.
What Can I make with this Béchamel Sauce?
Make a delicious lasagna using white sauce instead of red. Simply cook your ground beef with the addition of a can of diced tomatoes and a few tablespoons of tomato paste. Use the white sauce as you would the tomato sauce in the lasagna recipe. Top with plenty of fresh mozzarella cheese.
Add Béchamel Sauce to your favorite cooked vegetables like steamed broccoli.
Porterhouse Steak in Blue Cheese White Sauce
