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A pot of white sauce and a wooden spoon showing how thick it is.

White Sauce (Bechamel Sauce)

White Sauce is a basic recipe everyone needs and it’s naturally gluten free. Then you can make Mac 'n Cheese, Moussaka, Eggs Florentine and so much more!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Homemade Sauces
Cuisine: French
Keyword: gluten free white sauce
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Author: Cinde Little

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch *see notes if you're having trouble with the thickness
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup milk (the higher the fat the richer the sauce)

Instructions

  • Melt butter in small saucepan.
  • Add cornstarch, salt and pepper, whisk until smooth and bubbly.
  • Slowly pour in a third of the milk. Stir off and on as it thickens.
  • Add the next third and allow sauce to thicken again.
  • Add the final third, stirring until sauce is thick and smooth.
  • For cheese sauce add cheese and stir until melted.

Notes

You can over stir a sauce with cornstarch and break it. Just stir off and on letting it thicken but preventing it from sticking to the bottom. If you're having trouble getting it to thicken use an extra ½ tablespoon of cornstarch and don't stir it as much.