White sauce, also known as béchamel sauce, is a versatile and creamy sauce made from butter, flour, and milk. It serves as a base for many delicious dishes and can be used in a variety of delicious recipes.
White Sauce Recipe – How to Make White Sauce
White Sauce is so easy to prepare and one of those very important things that need to be mastered by the beginner cook.
Once you have learned how to cook the perfect white sauce, there are many ways to be more creative with dinner!
Don’t worry if your white sauce doesn’t turn out perfectly the first time! Try a few times and you will find you have mastered how to make the perfect white sauce.
To Start – There are 3 Basic Types of White Sauce:
Here are 3 basic types of white sauce:
Thin White Sauce:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
Salt & Pepper
1 cup of Milk
Medium White Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
Salt & Pepper
1 cup of Milk
Thick White Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
Salt & Pepper
1 cup of Milk
Easy Step By Step Instructions on How to Make a Basic White Sauce:
STEP 1 – Make sure everything you need is right at your finger tips. Make sure your milk is poured & measured and your flour is ready.
STEP 2 – Start your white sauce by melting the butter in a small sauce pan. Melt the butter on medium to high heat, but be careful not to burn.
STEP 3 – Slowly sprinkle flour into the pan, stirring as you go.
STEP 4 – Keep your heat medium high and stir for about 30 seconds. Add salt & pepper while stirring.
STEP 5 – Slowly add milk, stirring constantly as you go.
Once well blended and thickened – it’s done! Great Job!
Here are some common ways to use white sauce:
Pasta Dishes:
- Fettuccine Alfredo – Toss fettuccine pasta in a creamy white sauce with grated Parmesan cheese for a classic Alfredo dish.
- Macaroni and Cheese – White sauce forms the creamy base for homemade mac and cheese when combined with cheddar or other cheeses.
- Lasagna – Layer white sauce with sheets of lasagna, ricotta cheese, and meat or vegetables to create a rich and creamy lasagna.
- Gratin Dishes – Potatoes au gratin and other vegetable gratins often use a white sauce combined with cheese to create a creamy, cheesy topping.
- Creamed Spinach – Combine white sauce with sautéed spinach for a rich and creamy side dish.
- Vegetable Dishes – Use white sauce as a creamy coating for vegetables like asparagus, green beans, or Brussels sprouts.
- Sauces for Meat and Poultry – White sauce can be a base for other sauces. For instance, add mustard, herbs, or lemon for a sauce to accompany chicken or fish.
- Stuffed Crepes – Use white sauce to fill and top crepes stuffed with ingredients like ham and cheese.
- Pot Pie Filling – Create a filling for chicken or vegetable pot pies using white sauce, combined with your choice of ingredients.
- Yummy Scalloped Potatoes – Layer thinly sliced potatoes with white sauce and bake for a creamy and comforting side dish.
White sauce is a versatile base that you can customize with different seasonings, herbs, and additional ingredients to suit your taste and create a wide variety of dishes. It’s a fundamental component of many classic recipes, adding creaminess and depth of flavor to your cooking.
Once you master making a great white sauce, there are so many different sauces you can create. From basic macaroni and cheese to a fancy lemon caper sauce for fish or vegetables.
