Classic Béchamel Sauce with a Gourmet Twist

Ingredients

- 2 cups Milk
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 4 tablespoons All-purpose Flour
- 1 pinch White Pepper
- 1 pinch Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1/2 Onion, peeled

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ingredients:
- Gather all your ingredients and ensure they are measured out accurately.

2. Infuse the Milk:
- Using a small saucepan, pour in 2 cups of milk.
- Add the 1/2 onion and 1 bay leaf to the milk.
- Place the saucepan over low heat.
- Allow the milk to warm gently for about 5 minutes, being careful not to bring it to a boil.
- Once warmed, remove from heat and set aside to allow the flavors to infuse further for another 5 minutes.

3. Create the Roux:
- In a separate medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
- Once the butter is fully melted and starting to foam, add 4 tablespoons of flour.
- Stir continuously with a wooden spoon or whisk, cooking the mixture for about 2 minutes. This forms a roux, which will thicken your sauce.

4. Combine and Cook:
- Strain the infused milk to remove the onion and bay leaf, then slowly add the milk to the roux, whisking constantly to ensure a lump-free consistency.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and continue to whisk until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5-7 minutes.

5. Season and Finish:
- Add a pinch of white pepper, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, if necessary.
- Once thickened to your liking, remove the sauce from heat.

6. Serve:
- Pour the sauce into a serving dish or ladle it over your main dish directly.
- The béchamel sauce is perfect for pasta dishes, gratins, or even as a base for other sauces.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT5M
5 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT17M
17 minutes

Total Time

- PT22M
22 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Keywords

- Béchamel Sauce
- Classic Sauce
- Dinner Sauce
- Gourmet Béchamel
- White Sauce
- Onion Infusion
- Stove Top Sauce
- Nutmeg Seasoning
- Traditional Béchamel
- Creamy Dinner

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- Total: 864 calories

#Béchamel #GourmetCooking #DinnerRecipes #SauceRecipe #CookingAtHome