Jim Laheys Bechamel Sauce Recipes

JIM LAHEY'S BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place 2/3 cup milk and butter in a medium saucepan; heat over medium-low heat, stirring, until butter melts. Do not let milk come to a boil.
• Meanwhile, place flour in a medium bowl; add remaining milk and whisk until well combined. Ladle some of the warm milk mixture into the bowl and mix until warmed through.
• Transfer entire contents of bowl to saucepan and whisk in salt. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking, until thickened and mixture reaches about 180 degrees. Stir in nutmeg and remove from heat; bring to room temperature. Bechamel will thicken as it cools.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add flour and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden, has a slightly nutty aroma, and is the texture of cooked oatmeal, about 5 minutes.
• Whisking constantly, pour in 2 cups milk; add 2 more cups milk and whisk until smooth. Cook mixture, stirring constantly along the bottom of pan, until boiling, about 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and does not feel grainy when a very small amount is rubbed between two fingers, about 10 minutes.

BASIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is soft, 4 minutes. Add flour, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until mixture is pale golden with a nutty aroma, 4 minutes. Whisking constantly, add half the milk. Add the remaining milk and whisk until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce comes to a boil and thickens, 10 minutes. Use immediately.

GRUYERE BECHAMEL

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden and has a slightly nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Stir in Dijon.
• Whisking constantly, pour in 2 cups milk and whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high, whisking often along the bottom of pan, until boiling, about 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Add nutmeg and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens to the consistency of thin yogurt, about 10 minutes. Stir in Gruyere. Season with salt and pepper.

BECHAMEL SAUCE FOR LASAGNA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy-bottom, medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes; do not let roux brown.
• Whisking constantly, add about 2 tablespoons hot milk to saucepan.
• Pour half of the remaining hot milk into the saucepan in small increments, whisking the mixture constantly, until a smooth paste forms.
• Whisk remaining milk into pan; add nutmeg and salt. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, making sure to scrape bottom and sides, until sauce is thick and creamy, about 15 minutes; if any lumps form, stir sauce rapidly with a whisk. Season with pepper; remove from heat. Let sauce stand until lukewarm, about 30 minutes, before assembling lasagna.