Home » Condiments » Creamy Béchamel Sauce

PREP : 5 MIN | COOK : 15 MIN| TOTAL : 20 MIN |

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Béchamel pronounced (bay-sha-mel) is one of the most famous basics of French cooking. This delicious and creamy white sauce is the base of many French recipes, and is a great wine pairing ally!


Béchamel in a copper saucepan with a ladle on the side

A few details about the recipe

A true French classic, béchamel sauce is a preparation found in many French recipes. It is a white white sauce usually flavored with ground nutmeg. Cheese and onion are added to this white sauce in numerous French recipes.

Get ready to try Oven Baked Cheese Béchamel Toasts, The Lightest Cheese Soufflé, or Blue Cheese Soufflé Tart! All these recipes include béchamel as an ingredient. Don’t forget to check them out!


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does this keep?

Béchamel can be kept for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

Can this be made in advance?

Sure! Make the Béchamel sauce ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. Reheat it in a saucepan if need be, or directly spread it on bread with grated cheese on top to make Oven Baked Cheese and Béchamel Toasts in the oven.

Can this be frozen?

Yes, béchamel can be frozen in a solid ziplock bag and kept in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw overnight and it is ready to be used!


Melted Cheese and Béchamel Toasts on a plate

Other delicious French inspired recipes

Recipe

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Béchamel sauce in a copper saucepan with a ladle on the side and a kitchen cloth

Creamy Béchamel Sauce

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale

¼ cup (35 g) of butter

¼ cup (35 g) of all-purpose flour

2 cups (500 ml) of milk (I recommend full fat milk for extra creaminess)

¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon of sea salt

⅛ teaspoon of white pepper 

Instructions

  1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
  2. When the butter is bubbling nicely, add the flour all at once and stir energetically with a whisk.
  3. Lower the heat to medium intensity.
  4. Add 1/3 of the milk and stir.
  5. Add another 1/3 of the milk and keep stirring.
  6. Add the rest of the milk and stir continuously for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
  7. Add the ground nutmeg, salt and white pepper and stir.
  8. It’s ready!

Nim Keys

The secret of Béchamel lies in the constant whisking. Just know you won’t be able to multitask while making béchamel but trust us, it’s worth the commitment!

  • Author: Ninon
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Category: Condiment
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: béchamel sauce, white sauce, French cuisine

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