Herb Bechamel Sauce Recipes

BASIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the flour until smooth. Continue stirring as the flour cooks to a light, golden, sandy color, about 7 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in milk until thickened by the roux. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue simmering until the flour has softened and not longer tastes gritty, 10 to 20 minutes, then season with salt and nutmeg.

HERB BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, onion and herbs in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to lowest point and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often. It should produce approximately 2 cups. Turn off the heat and let it set until needed. For a smoother result, strain the sauce, if desired. In a saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the flour, cooking over medium-low heat about 1 minute. Whisk in the warm milk all at once. If adding heavy cream, stir in cream (brought to room temperature) at this point. Season with salt and cook over lowest heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often.

BASIC MEDIUM BéCHAMEL SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan or saucier over medium heat. Add flour and stir until mixture is well blended. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
• Gradually stir in hot milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to boil and thickens.
• Simmer, stirring frequently, over very low heat for 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and add a little nutmeg, if desired.

BECHAMEL SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Place sauce pan on the stove, add butter and melt.
• Add half of the flour and whisk. into butter. Keep over slow to medium heat.
• Add the remaining flour and whisk in over a medium heat setting. Whisk and reduce until it bubbles and it has slightly turned light brown. The roux needs to be smooth.
• Reduce heat and pour in slowly milk and whisk in.
• Increase heat to medium and keep on whisking to incorporate sauce ingredients. Keep on whisking, the sauce will get formed and will thicken.
• When you are happy with the consistency, season with salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg. Adjust flavor to your liking.
• At this point, you can choose to add cheese too to make a cheesy sauce mornay. Use the sauce in another dish or serve with meats or veggies.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the butter and onion to a large saucepan over medium heat. Season the onions with salt, to taste, and cook until they become translucent and very aromatic. Add the flour and cook until the flour and butter resemble wet sand, about 3 to 4 minutes. Gradually, whisk in the milk until incorporated. Add the bay leaf and nutmeg and season with salt, to taste. Slowly bring the milk/flour mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. Be sure that the milk comes to a boil or the flour will not cook out and you will be left with a very objectionable starchy feeling on your tongue.
• Once the sauce has come to a boil and has thickened, remove it from the heat. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the grated Parmigiano, taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
• Use right away or refrigerate, covered, until ready to assemble dish.
• Creamy!

HERB BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, onion and herbs in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to lowest point and cook for about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it set until you need it. Then strain it--or not, if you prefer. There should be about 2 cups. Melt the butter and stir in the flour and cook over medium low heat about 1 minute. Whisk in the warm milk all at once and stir in cream, if you're using it. Season with salt and cook over lowest heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add flour and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden, has a slightly nutty aroma, and is the texture of cooked oatmeal, about 5 minutes.
• Whisking constantly, pour in 2 cups milk; add 2 more cups milk and whisk until smooth. Cook mixture, stirring constantly along the bottom of pan, until boiling, about 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and does not feel grainy when a very small amount is rubbed between two fingers, about 10 minutes.

CREAMY GARLIC AND HERB BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place garlic cloves in a small baking dish and toss with oil to coat.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cloves are light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Combine garlic and hot stock in a blender. Season with salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Add cream, butter, parsley, oregano, and thyme; process until completely blended.
• Transfer sauce to a container and allow to cool, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use. Reheat the sauce over low heat when ready to serve.

BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE) SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS INCLUDING AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• NOTE - It is best to use warm to hot liquids when making sauce, which helps to prevent lumps. Also, constant stirring will help prevent the sauce from scorching on the bottom. If sauce turns lumpy, whisk vigorously with a wire whip or strain through a wire sieve before serving.
• Stir in milk or other liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Option: Reduce milk by the same amount you add white wine, sherry or brandy will create a lovely flavor.
• CHEESE SAUCE - Once sauce is made, remove from heat and stir in 1/2 to 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese (or whatever flavor compliments what you are making -- better yet use 2 different cheeses), stirring until melted. To Au Gratin anything use this sauce mixed with potatoes, veggies, meats or whatever and heat through. Top with seasoned bread crumbs and more cheese finishing in the broiler.
• CURRY SAUCE - Stir in 1/2 teaspoon curry powder with the flour.
• DILL SAUCE - Stir in 1 teaspoon chopped fresh, or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed and a dash of ground nutmeg with the flour.
• MORNAY SAUCE.
• Add 1/2 cup grated cheese to 1 cup of hot sauce; stir over low heat until cheese is melted. Season with a little mustard or Worcestershire sauce to taste.
• VELOUTE SAUCE.
• Substitute chicken, beef, fish, or vegetable broth for the milk.
• HERB SAUCE.
• Add 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped herbs or 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs to 1 cup of hot sauce. Cook for a minute or two longer to get more flavor from the herbs.
• CREAM SAUCE.
• Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to the finished sauce. For an onion flavor, add an onion slice to the milk when heating; remove onion slice before adding milk to flour and butter mixture.
• MUSTARD SAUCE.
• Combine 1 teaspoon dry mustard to flour used in sauce. This sauce is especially good with fish and chicken.

BEARNAISE SAUCE II

Steps:

• Place butter in a medium glass bowl, and melt in the microwave, about 30 seconds on High. Whisk in the onion, white wine vinegar, egg yolks, heavy cream and lemon juice. Season with tarragon, parsley, salt, mustard powder and cayenne pepper; mix well.
• Return to the microwave, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes, or until thickened, stirring until smooth every 20 to 30 seconds.

BASIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is soft, 4 minutes. Add flour, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until mixture is pale golden with a nutty aroma, 4 minutes. Whisking constantly, add half the milk. Add the remaining milk and whisk until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce comes to a boil and thickens, 10 minutes. Use immediately.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a sauce pan cook the onion in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened. Stir in the flour and cook the roux, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the milk in a stream, whisking vigorously until the mixture is thick and smooth, add the salt and the white pepper, and simmer the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is thickened to the desired consistency. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl and cover the surface with a buttered round of wax paper to prevent a skin from forming.

FREEZER-FRIENDLY HERBED BéCHAMEL

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the thyme, shallots, and garlic and cook, sweating the shallots, for 3 to 5 minutes, until fragrant and softened. Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and reduce for about 10 minutes, until almost completely evaporated. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Continue to cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the flour smells nutty and has begun to take on a hint of light tan.
• While stirring constantly, slowly add the milk and cream. The mixture will seize up and the flour will clump for a moment but will ultimately reincorporate and the mixture will become smooth. Bring to a gentle simmer, continuing to stir to avoid scorching, and cook until the mixture thickens to the consistency of thick gravy. This will take about 6 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper to taste.
• TO FREEZE: Spread the béchamel on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool to room temperature. Portion and transfer the béchamel to freezer-safe containers, such as vacuum pouches, quart-size zip-top plastic bags, or pint-size lidded plastic containers. Label and date and freeze for up to 3 months.
• TO THAW: Pull the béchamel out of the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours, or put the packaged béchamel in a into a larger bowl or other vessel, or even a plugged sink, and run a slow steady trickle of cold water over it until it thaws.
• TO REHEAT: If you used vacuum pouches, reheating from frozen using the sous vide method works well. Set the sous vide water bath to 145°F and drop in the pouch. It will take about 1 hour to reach temperature, depending on the volume. Otherwise, thaw first, then transfer to a saucepan and reheat on the stove over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to gently simmer.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• MICROWAVE METHOD: In microwave oven, melt butter in a 1-quart glass measuring pitcher for about 1 minute at HIGH.
• Add grated onion and flour and mix well. Gradually add warm or room temperature chicken broth (NOT hot) and half-and-half to container, stirring constantly.
• Cook uncovered for 5-6 minutes at HIGH or until sauce is thickened. Do NOT boil.
• After 2 minutes, stir mixture, then stir again every 30 seconds to one minute as needed. When sauce reaches medium thickness, remove from microwave, add seasonings and stir. Mmmm!
• STOVETOP METHOD: In a small saucepan, melt butter and stir in the flour, salt and white pepper. Add cold half-and-half and COLD chicken broth all at once. Stir well. Cook, stirring frequently, at medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and stir in seasoning.