The béchamel sauce is a basic sauce among the most used in cooking. It is of French origin but is widely known in other countries and is used a lot in Italian cooking as well. It is quick to make and requires few ingredients. It’s perfect for preparing lasagna with meat sauce, or for dressing baked vegetables or making a delicious baked pasta. To prepare a good béchamel sauce, you’ll need 4 cups of whole milk, 7 tablespoons of butter, 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. The quantities depend on the number of people and the dish you want to prepare. If you notice lumps in the sauce, you can fix it by using a sieve. It will take less than 10 minutes to prepare this tasty sauce!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 servings
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for making béchamel sauce
- 4 cups whole milk
- 7 tbsp butter
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste nutmeg
Steps to make béchamel sauce
To prepare the béchamel sauce, first melt the butter in a pot over low heat. Once it’s completely melted, add the all-purpose flour and stir with a whisk until you achieve a smooth and homogeneous consistency. Then, gradually add the whole milk, continuing to stir to avoid lumps.
Season the béchamel sauce with salt and nutmeg. It should not be too liquid or too thick. Cook on low heat for about 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce begins to thicken. Turn off the heat, and if you’re not using it immediately, pour it into a bowl and cover with a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Your béchamel sauce is ready to use!
Storage and tips
You can store the sauce in the refrigerator in a container for up to 2-3 days
