Béchamel, pronounced (bay-sha-mel), is a staple in French cooking. This tasty and creamy white sauce is the starting point for many delicious French recipes.
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A few details about the recipe
A true French classic, béchamel sauce is a preparation found in many French recipes. It is a 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!
Recipe FAQs
Béchamel can be kept for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
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.
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!
Other delicious French-inspired recipes
Creamy Béchamel Sauce
PRINT SAVEEQUIPMENT
- Whisk
- Saucepan
INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup (35 g) butter
- ¼ cup (35 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) milk (I recommend whole milk for extra creaminess)
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
- When the butter is bubbling nicely, add the flour all at once and stir energetically with a whisk.
- Lower the heat to medium intensity.
- Add 1/3 of the milk and stir.
- Add another 1/3 of the milk and keep stirring.
- Add the rest of the milk and stir continuously for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Add the ground nutmeg, salt, and white pepper and stir.
- It’s ready!