bechamel
Creamy French base
Bechamel is a creamy white sauce made from butter, flour, and milk—one of the foundational sauces in French cooking.
It serves as a base for other sauces and appears in dishes like lasagna, gratins, and croque-monsieur: The macaroni was smothered in a rich bechamel.
Also spelled béchamel.
Base sauce others derive from
- veloutéStock-based white sauce
- espagnoleStock-thickened classic sauce
- hollandaiseEmulsified butter-egg sauce
- tomato sauceCooked, seasoned puréed fruit
mornay · Escoffier · classical · foundation · derivative · French cuisine · sauce base
Baked layered pasta dish
- moussakaLayered eggplant casserole
- gratinBaked dish, browned crust
- macaroni and cheesePasta in cheese sauce
- croque monsieurFrench grilled ham-and-cheese
cannelloni · croquettes · soufflé · cauliflower cheese · scalloped potatoes · fish pie · baked pasta
Mammalian nursing fluid
- butterSolid fat from cream
- flourMilled grain powder
- nutmegAromatic seed spice
- white pepperDehulled peppercorn spice
bay leaf · onion · clove · salt · shallot · whole milk · unsalted butter · all-purpose flour
Cooked fat-flour paste
- flourMilled grain powder
- butterSolid fat from cream
- whiskLooped wire mixer
- thickenerSubstance adding viscosity
paste · stirring · melt · binder · cook out · fat · starch · toasted
mother sauce
Base sauce others derive from
- veloutéStock-based white sauce
- espagnoleStock-thickened classic sauce
- hollandaiseEmulsified butter-egg sauce
tomato sauce · mornay · Escoffier · classical · foundation · derivative · French cuisine · sauce base
lasagna
Baked layered pasta dish
- moussakaLayered eggplant casserole
- gratinBaked dish, browned crust
- macaroni and cheesePasta in cheese sauce
croque monsieur · cannelloni · croquettes · soufflé · cauliflower cheese · scalloped potatoes · fish pie · baked pasta
milk
Mammalian nursing fluid
white pepper · bay leaf · onion · clove · salt · shallot · whole milk · unsalted butter · all-purpose flour · seasoning
roux
Cooked fat-flour paste
thickener · paste · stirring · melt · binder · cook out · fat · starch · toasted
creamy
Smooth and rich
rich · glossy · coating · thick · luscious · pourable · luxurious · satiny · white · opaque
whisk
Looped wire mixer
saucepan · gradual · temper · incorporate · heat · blend · emulsion · consistency · strain · double boiler
- French cuisinebaguette, croissant, coq au vin, crepe suzette, croissants
- cheesy dishesgrilled cheese, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, nachos, quesadilla
- pasta saucesmarinara, pesto, alfredo, bolognese, arrabbiata
- saucesgravy, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, BBQ sauce
- creamy foodscustard, pudding, mousse, yogurt, ice cream
- mother saucesveloute, espagnole, hollandaise, tomato sauce
bechamelreduction
Making something smaller
demi-glace · jus · hollandaise · au jus · gravy
bechamelespagnole
Stock-thickened classic sauce
demi-glace · brown sauce · bordelaise · chasseur · tomato sauce
- bechamel sauceMilk-based French base