Let’s admit it, nearly everything feels more indulgent when you add cheese sauce. When thinking about cheese sauce many of you might think of the store-bought unhealthy kind, but cheese sauce is extremely versatile and comes in many forms. Bechamel, for example, is a French white sauce that combines butter and flour with milk. And of course, any food can instantly become healthier when you prepare it at home and control the quality of products that go in it. Here’s how to make a comforting and delicious cheese sauce at home.
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (you can choose any cheese variety you like, but if you decide to mix different cheeses make sure they share a similar flavor profile. Parmesan and gruyere, for example, go great together.
- 2 cups milk
- Salt and ground white pepper to taste
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Whisk in the flour and stir until combined. Keep stirring for 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat.
- Pour the milk slowly, whisking constantly until it thickens and becomes lump-free.
- Season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg (optional) to taste.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly add the cheese, whisking constantly. Cheese melts better when it’s room temperature, so it’s best to take it out the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before making your sauce.
