Continental · 1 jar

White Sauce

Butter, flour, milk. Half the bakes on this site start here.

10 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • Salt

Method

  1. Melt the butter on low and stir the flour in. Cook it a full minute — raw flour tastes like raw flour.
  2. Milk in slowly, whisking the whole time.
  3. Simmer until thick and smooth.
  4. A skin forms as it cools. Press cling film onto the surface if you're keeping it.

Questions people ask about White Sauce

How long does White Sauce take?

About 10 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. That is start-to-finish, so it works on a weeknight when you have not planned anything.

What can I use instead of butter in White Sauce?

Use ghee or oil. Ghee has no water in it, so things brown faster and you may need slightly less.

Can I make White Sauce ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is White Sauce vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

How long does home-made white sauce keep?

Four or five days in the fridge in a sealed jar, or freeze it in portions. Anything with dairy in it is on the shorter end of that.

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