Besciamella Sauce

5 from 3 votes

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Besciamella also known as Italian Bechamel Sauce is wonderfully creamy and adds a delicious richness to lasagna, pasta and so much more. This basic white sauce is made with just three ingredients—butter, flour, and milk—but its simplicity belies its quality.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings:

Author: Marcellina

Equipment

1 good quality medium saucepan
whisk
measuring cups and spoons (or scales)

Ingredients

4 cups (920mls) whole milk
⅔ cup (86 grams) all purpose flour
3 ounces (85 grams)salted butter
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low to medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk continuously for 1–2 minutes until the mixture turns golden and smells nutty. This step eliminates the raw flour taste.
In the meantime, heat the milk in a saucepan without boiling. You can also heat the milk in a microwave-safe container in the microwave.
Remove the roux from the heat. Pour in a little of the hot milk whisking constantly to combine. Continue adding milk slowly and whisking. This prevents lumps from forming and produces a silky smooth sauce.
Return the saucepan to medium-low heat and continue whisking for 5–7 minutes, until the sauce simmers.
It will be ready when it's thick, smooth and coat the back of a spoon.
Stir in ground nutmeg and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Notes

Tips for Success

Cook flour and butter over medium heat for 2–3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
Avoid high heat to prevent burning the roux or scorching the milk. Adjust the heat as needed.
It blends ingredients better and prevents lumps more effectively than a spoon.
I prefer to heat the milk first. However, if you prefer you can use cold milk but be sure to whisk constantly as you add it to the roux. Using cold milk will produce a lumpier sauce.
Pour slowly while whisking to keep the sauce smooth.
If you do end up with lumps, all is not lost. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
Adjust seasoning as necessary.

Nutrition