Cheddar Cheese Sauce With A Bechamel Base Food

BASIC BECHAMEL (WHITE) SAUCE WITH VARIATIONS INCLUDING AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• NOTE - It is best to use warm to hot liquids when making sauce, which helps to prevent lumps. Also, constant stirring will help prevent the sauce from scorching on the bottom. If sauce turns lumpy, whisk vigorously with a wire whip or strain through a wire sieve before serving.
• Stir in milk or other liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Option: Reduce milk by the same amount you add white wine, sherry or brandy will create a lovely flavor.
• CHEESE SAUCE - Once sauce is made, remove from heat and stir in 1/2 to 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese (or whatever flavor compliments what you are making -- better yet use 2 different cheeses), stirring until melted. To Au Gratin anything use this sauce mixed with potatoes, veggies, meats or whatever and heat through. Top with seasoned bread crumbs and more cheese finishing in the broiler.
• CURRY SAUCE - Stir in 1/2 teaspoon curry powder with the flour.
• DILL SAUCE - Stir in 1 teaspoon chopped fresh, or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed and a dash of ground nutmeg with the flour.
• MORNAY SAUCE.
• Add 1/2 cup grated cheese to 1 cup of hot sauce; stir over low heat until cheese is melted. Season with a little mustard or Worcestershire sauce to taste.
• VELOUTE SAUCE.
• Substitute chicken, beef, fish, or vegetable broth for the milk.
• HERB SAUCE.
• Add 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped herbs or 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs to 1 cup of hot sauce. Cook for a minute or two longer to get more flavor from the herbs.
• CREAM SAUCE.
• Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to the finished sauce. For an onion flavor, add an onion slice to the milk when heating; remove onion slice before adding milk to flour and butter mixture.
• MUSTARD SAUCE.
• Combine 1 teaspoon dry mustard to flour used in sauce. This sauce is especially good with fish and chicken.

BECHAMEL MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Over medium heat in a saucepan, heat the milk with the stock and salt, stirring throughout. Continue to heat the milk mixture over medium heat, and then reduce to low heat once the milk has begun to froth or simmer.
• Next, in a second saucepan, heat the butter until melted. Stir in the flour. Reduce the heat to low and stir until well incorporated. Remove from the heat when it is a pale tan color (a blond roux).
• Once the roux has thickened, slowly stir into the milk mixture to blend. Continue to stir over low heat until well incorporated. Finally, remove from the heat and whisk in the cheeses. Once mixed, add the pasta, again stir well and serve.

CHEESY BéCHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in the flour to make a roux.
• Allow the roux to cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring.
• Add the milk a little at a time, whisking it continuously, allowing the mixture to blend and thicken. This will take about 10 minutes, although 20 minutes is recommended by cooking school instructors. Lower the heat to medium-low if needed.
• Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese , and hot sauce, if using. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and use it immediately. Enjoy.

HOW TO MAKE BéCHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour.
• Whisk until smooth then slowly pour in the milk, a little at a time. (I always reserve approximately ½ cup milk. Some flours will absorb more/less liquid so you might not need all of it and sometimes after adding cheese I like to thin out the sauce just a little with the remaining milk.)
• Whisk continuously until the sauce is thick then turn down the heat, add the spices and allow to simmer, stirring, until the sauce is thick and cooked through (this takes around 7-10 minutes on a gentle heat).
• Once the sauce is cooked (the sauce will be completely smooth tasting with no flouriness) season to taste.
• If making cheese sauce, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese. Season to taste.

CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE WITH A BECHAMEL BASE

Steps:

• Make a Bechamel sauce as follows: Heat clarified butter in medium size saucepan.
• Whisk in bread flour and stir and cook over low heat until light cream color, but at least 1 minute.
• Cool slightly.
• In another saucepan, scald the milk.
• Gradually add milk to the roux (flour and butter mixture) beating constantly with whisk.
• Bring sauce to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Stick the bay leaf to the onion with the clove.
• Place onion in sauce.
• Simmer at least 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Season very lightly with salt, nutmeg and white pepper.
• Strain through a china cap.
• Place plastic wrap on sauce to prevent formation of skin.
• Cool in cold water bath and store in freezer in ziplock bags for later use, or keep warm over warm water bath for use in dishes being currently prepared.
• To 1 qt of this Bechamel Sauce, add the cheddar cheese, dry mustard and worcestershire sauce.
• Whisk over low heat until the cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.

HOMEMADE CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and salt until a paste forms. Slowly add milk; cook and stir until fully incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add cheese, stir to combine, and cook until melted, 1 to 2 minutes.