Béchamel Sauce
Béchamel sauce is a mouthwatering easy recipe. This classic sauce will enhance any dish in an incredible way and add a special touch.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Sprinkle in flour and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes.
- While whisking, pour in the milk. Whisk aggressively to break up any lumps.
- Continue to whisk until the sauce begins to thicken for about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Cube Butter to Prevent Burning: If you put the butter in one lump, it won’t all heat up at the same time, and the bottom will likely burn before the top melts. You may ensure that all the butter receives equal heat and melts uniformly by chopping it into little pieces.
- Add Milk Gradually: If you pour the milk all at once, the roux will clump together in small lumps and be difficult to whisk away. Pour the milk gradually and mix the mixture as smoothly as possible before adding the next drop.
- Go Slow for the Best Blend: To prepare a good sauce, you have to go slowly, allowing all the components to blend gradually and harmoniously. However, if you increase the heat too quickly, the mixture will be cooked before it blends completely and it will burn probably.
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: Good ingredients create a delicious sauce, so use good milk and butter. Use full-cream milk and European-style butter with more butterfat and lower moisture to get the creamiest flavor.
- Opt for Semi-Skimmed Milk: If you’re monitoring your calories, use semi-skimmed milk instead of whole milk. However, don’t use low-fat butter because fat is a key ingredient in the roux.
Nutrition
Calories: 535kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 724mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1295IU | Calcium: 463mg | Iron: 1mg