Bechamel Basics

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

1 Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

Step 2

2 Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks & bubbles a bit DO NOT LET IT BROWN about 2 minutes

Step 3

3 Warm the milk on low heat just until little bubbles begin to form at the edges. Then remove from heat.

Step 4

4 Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens.

Step 5

5 Bring it to a boil.

Step 6

6 Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more.

Step 7

7 Remove from the heat. To cool this sauce for later use, cover it with wax paper or pour a film of milk over it to prevent a skin from forming.

Step 8

Cheese Sauce

Step 9

8 To turn your white sauce into cheese sauce, stir in ½ cup grated Cheddar cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking, along with a pinch of cayenne pepper.