Béchamel Sauce (White Sauce)

Bechamel is a creamy white sauce that can be eaten with pasta, with steamed vegetables or spread over pizza.

Prep Time: 5 min

Cooking Time: 10-15 min

Total:   15-20 min

Ingredients

1 cup milk or substitute "milk"

1-2 tbsp. butter or vegan margarine

1-2 tbsp. flour

1 tsp. mustard powder

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese or 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast flakes
dried basil or oregano (optional)

salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a sauce pan, melt butter or margarine on medium heat.  When melted, slowly add flour, 1 teaspoon at at time.  At the same time, add mustard powder if using.
2. A thick paste (called a "roux") should form. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning.  For a thick béchamel sauce, use a ratio of 2 tbsp. butter/margarine to 2 tbsp. flour.
3. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or using a whisk.
4. As the milk becomes heated, the sauce will thicken.  Stir constantly to avoid sauce becoming lumpy.
5. Once sauce has thickened, add grated cheese or yeast flakes, and dried herbs.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.