5.0 from 24 votes
Classic Bechamel Sauce
Béchamel Sauce is a staple in classic French cuisine. It is a dairy-based white sauce thickened with a butter and flour roux. It can be used on its own over pasta, or as the base in many other dishes.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 112 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
French
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt , or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper , or to taste
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add in flour and increase heat to medium. Whisk together and let cook for 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in milk, whisking to combine.
- Bring to a simmer and whisk constantly while it heats. Just as it comes to a simmer, it will thicken up and should be just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Season by stirring in nutmeg, salt, and white pepper to taste. Serve hot.
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Notes
- Cheesy bechamel sauce: make the sauce as directed and then finish by stirring in 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese until melted.
- Adjusting thickness: the recipe as written makes a medium-thick sauce that is perfect for general use like coating pasta. For a thin white sauce, reduce the butter and flour both to 2 tablespoons. For a super thick white sauce use up to 1/2 cup each of flour and butter.
Nutrition Information
Serving
0.25cups
Calories
112kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
7g
(2%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Cholesterol
23mg
(8%)
Sodium
34mg
(1%)
Potassium
101mg
(3%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
301IU
(6%)
Calcium
88mg
(9%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 112
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0.25cups | |
| Calories | 112kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 23mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 34mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 101mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 301IU | 6% |
| Calcium | 88mg | 9% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.