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–+ servings
Béchamel Sauce in a white gravy boat garnished with a sprinkling of ground nutmeg.

Béchamel Sauce (White Sauce)

Print Recipe
Creamy Béchamel Sauce is one of the five basic French sauces and is used in many dishes like gratins, macaroni and cheese, and lasagna.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Sauces
Cuisine French
Servings 12 Servings
Author Jan Nunes
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Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Flour
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk
  • ½ Cup Heavy Cream
  • ¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper Freshly Ground
  • 1 Pinch Ground Nutmeg
  • ¼ Teaspoon Paprika Optional

Instructions

  • Make a Light Roux. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour. Stir and cook the butter and flour for 3 to 4 minutes until the flour is fully incorporated into the butter and well-cooked but not brown.
    2 Tablespoons Salted Butter, 2 Tablespoons Flour
  • Whisk in Liquids. Whisk in the milk and heavy cream and stir well to avoid lumps. Continue to whisk and cook over medium heat until the sauce comes to a simmer and has thickened.
    1 Cup Whole Milk, ½ Cup Heavy Cream
  • Season. Immediately add salt, freshly ground black pepper, nutmeg, and paprika. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
    ¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt, ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper, 1 Pinch Ground Nutmeg, ¼ Teaspoon Paprika

Notes

My Top Tip
♡ Continuous whisking while adding the milk and cream, and during cooking, will result in a smooth sauce. If you do get lumps, use a strainer to remove them easily.
Make-Ahead, Storage, & Reheating Instructions
This sauce is best used immediately, but you can refrigerate it for use later.
Refrigeration: Store the béchamel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: This sauce does not freeze well.
Reheating: You can gently reheat béchamel sauce on the stove or in a microwave. Whisking in a small amount of milk will help loosen the sauce. However, generally, you will add this sauce to a casserole, sandwich, or other dish and can reheat it according to that recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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