Food & Cooking Recipes Quick & Easy Recipes Bechamel Sauce 3.4 (92) 2 Reviews By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 17, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Close Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 30 mins Yield: 4 cups Béchamel is one of the five mother sauces of French cuisine—but you don't need professional chef training to make it. Also known as white sauce, béchamel is versatile and creamy; it is made from milk and thickened with a roux of flour and butter. This sauce is used in lots of comforting recipes, from lasagna and mac and cheese to gratins and casseroles. Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ cup finely chopped onion ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon coarse salt 4 cups whole milk Directions 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. Originally appeared: Everyday Food, October 2009 Rate It PRINT