Bechamel Sauce is also known as white sauce made up of milk and flour stirred in melted butter thus giving it up a consistent texture. It is a secret too many recipes in French cuisine .The process is easy to make. The best thing about this sauce is its versatility. It is used in many recopies whether be it Indian Italian or Mexican. The Bechamel Sauce gives food a flavor and an amazing texture making it rich and tasty. This popular recipe is made traditionally by whisking scalded milk slowly into a white flour-butter roux. The proportion of milk and flour decides the consistency in Bechamel Sauce recipe.
Origin of Bechamel Sauce
Bechamel Sauce is named after ‘’Bechamel ‘’ which was actually an improvement to the similar earlier sauce known as veloute. Bechamel hold the honorary post of steward to Louis XIV.Originally the sauce was made up with a large amount of cream added. Gradually the use of Bechamel Sauce recipe flourished by many chefs all over the world and became famous as White Sauce.
Ingredients Used and Method of Preparation of Bechamel Sauce
The basic ingredients used in Bechamel Sauce recipe are milk, flour and butter. Traditionally it is made by whisking up milk in butter slowly over the flame and gradually adding flour to the mixture. The consistency of the sauce depends much upon the proportion if the ingredients used. The sauce is widely used in French Cuisine and in some of the Italian Delicacies.
Variations in Bechamel Sauce
Since the sauce is used in many recipes as a base sauce people like to add some variations to it according to the dish it is getting used in. The basic ingredients remain the same but certain ingredients are used to add a flavor to Bechamel Sauce. Those who like to make it spicy can add a teaspoon of dry mustard. Or one can even add fresh herbs to it to give the Bechamel Sauce recipe a more authentic taste. It can be also given a more creamy texture if some one likes to by adding a teaspoon of cream. Meats and vegetables can be added to give it a distinctive taste.
Use of Bechamel Sauce
This Sauce is commonly used in many well-known recipes across all continents such as macaroni cheese, lasagne and moussaka. It is also the basis for various types of soups, pies and croquettes. The Bechamel Sauce can even be served on its own or can be accompanied with fish, cheese, egg, chips, nachos and gratin dishes. People often add cloves to the sauce to get a nice aroma and flavor.
Nutritional Facts Related to Dish
There are 362 calories in 1 cup of Bechamel Sauce. The presence of butter and flour makes it heavy and unhealthy for those who are health conscious people or suffering from heart problems and obesity. There are various ways in which Bechamel Sauce recipe can be made lighter by using alternatives like Olive Oil, low fat milk and adding veggies like mushrooms, spinach and other healthy ingredients. Thus substituting the unhealthy ingredients with the healthier ones Bechamel Sauce can be made less calorigenic.
