Bechamel is one of the four main sauces in French cuisine. This is a milk sauce that can be served on its own or used as the basis for a more complex dish. It contains only three ingredients, but if necessary can be seasoned in various ways. How to make bechamel sauce at home?
Basic and easiest recipe
As noted above, the basic composition of this sauce includes three components:
- 2 tablespoons creamy unsalted butter;
- 2 tablespoons flour;
- 1 cup of milk.
How to cook it?
How to make bechamel sauce at home? Below is the basic recipe. If necessary, classic sauce can be seasoned in various ways to taste.
Place two tablespoons of oil in a small pan. Heat it over low heat until it melts. Mix the melted butter with two tablespoons of flour to make the rux or the initial stage of the sauce.
The secret of cooking is to always keep the ratio of oil and flour unchanged, regardless of whether you want to get more liquid or thicker bechamel.
Make the base thoroughly, stirring well, until the mixture turns pale and turns straw. This is a basic rule on how to make lumpy bechamel sauce.
Reduce heat and slowly pour 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk. Continue stirring until it is fully incorporated into the rox. Pour another 2-3 tablespoons of milk and mix until the components are completely combined.
And here is another secret. The gradual addition of the milk component is another important rule on how to make bechamel sauce.
Continue adding milk two or three tablespoons at a time until the entire glass is added. Do it slowly to mix ingredients easily. The simultaneous addition of milk can make the sauce lumpy.
Then remove the pan from the stove, add pepper and salt, if necessary. This is all instructions on how to make bechamel sauce. You can use it with a wide variety of dishes.
What can you cook with it?
What can be done with bechamel sauce? Once you have the skills to cook this classic white sauce, you can use it in many delicious dishes. It is used everywhere, from classics such as lasagna to more unusual options (such as soups). The proposed dishes will turn out to be very tasty and mouth-watering, if you succeeded in accurately fulfilling the instructions on how to make bechamel sauce correctly.
Lasagna
If you are cooking for a large family or want to satisfy voracious eaters, lasagna is ideal. This all-in-one dish is incredibly satisfying. In addition, it is very convenient for parents of fastidious children, as this is an ideal way to hide any amount of unloved, but healthy vegetables. Add a little crushed cheese and ground pepper on top of the bechamel sauce, and you get a great dish.
Spaghetti and Beef Pasta
The combination of tender beef stew and pasta with creamy sauce is a classic. This is one of the best pasta varieties. Besides beef, it will also look great with salmon. The main thing in such a dish is to remember how to make bechamel sauce more liquid. You just need to add a little more milk, and leave the ratio of oil and flour unchanged.
Moussaka
Often this dish is called "Greek lasagna." In fact, it consists of layers of eggplant and spiced meat coated with bechamel sauce. Often, potatoes and zucchini, as well as various other vegetables, are added to it.
Soups and Chowder
If you want to make a thick soup or stew, the ideal way to achieve this consistency is to add bechamel. To thicken the sauce and become velvety, cook it in a separate saucepan, and then add to the soup at the last minute.
Fish casserole
This is a white sauce dish to which spices, soft fish, cheese and herbs are added. Pasta or rice is the usual hearty side dish for this fragrant mix. Some recipes require the pasta to be cooked separately, while others suggest adding it directly to the dish. Then everything is baked in the oven to a golden top.
Fish pie
Classic fish cake is a wonderful thing. Its filling should be creamy, as the fish is mixed with mashed potatoes and seasoned with bechamel sauce. Fish cake is very easy to prepare and is a full meal.
Pasta
You can make simple and boiled pasta tender and tasty if you add bechamel to them. If you want a little more flavor, you can add a couple more handfuls of your favorite cheese.
Chicken Pie
One of the best ways to use bechamel is in a creamy chicken pie. Mix it with plenty of vegetables and serve it directly from the oven while it is hot.
An example of cooking a dish from this sauce
Above is instructions on how to make bechamel sauce. It was also noted that it is an ideal filler for lasagna. How to make such a delicious dish?
Making traditional lasagna is a time-consuming process that can take several hours. In the recipe below, you will use fresh spinach leaves and creamy delicate bechamel, which will greatly simplify the culinary process. You will need the following:
- 250 grams of fresh spinach leaves;
- 4 cloves of garlic;
- 120 grams of mozzarella cheese;
- a bunch of basil;
- 1 shallot;
- 500 ml of tomato puree;
- 1 medium eggplant;
- 3 tablespoons flour;
- 2 glasses of vegetable broth;
- 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted;
- 70 grams of grated Parmesan cheese.
How to do it?
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Wash and dry fresh vegetables. Heat a large pot of salt water, bring to a boil over high heat. If necessary, trim fresh spinach leaves to fit the bottom of your baking dish. Peel and chop the garlic and shallots. Grate mozzarella cheese. Tear off the basil leaves from the stem. Cut the eggplant into small pieces.
Make tomato sauce. To do this, in a small saucepan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over low heat. Add shallots and garlic, season with pepper and salt. Cook from 3 to 4 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring frequently. Add tomato puree and adjust the spice content. Reduce the heat to below average and simmer for 10-12 minutes to get a strong aroma and rich taste. Remove from the stove.
Then cook the eggplant. While the sauce is being prepared, in a separate pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Add the eggplant slices in one even layer, salt and pepper. Fry for 3-4 minutes or until brown. Turn eggplant over, add a little oil to the pan and season again with pepper and salt. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes, turn off the heat and set aside, leaving the eggplant in a pan.
Then you need to cook a white base. Do not forget how to make bechamel sauce for lasagna? In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Beat with flour and simmer, stirring often, for about 1 minute, or until light golden in color. Pour the milk slowly until lumps begin to appear. Often whisking, cook for 7-9 minutes to break the lumps and thicken the sauce. Remove from the stove and mix with half the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses until fully combined and smooth.
While preparing pasta and bechamel sauce, put the spinach leaves in a large pot with boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes. Drain and rinse with ice water to stop further cooking.
Then collect the lasagna. Take a baking dish and lay the components in alternating layers of tomato sauce, eggplant, spinach leaves and bechamel sauce. At the top, lay the last layer of lasagna from the remaining parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and begins to bubble. Remove from oven and let stand for at least 5 minutes before serving. Cut the dish and garnish with the remaining basil. Enjoy it!