A great cheese sauce is just a Béchamel Sauce with 6 oz of any great melting cheese added to it. Making a great cheese sauce is a good way to make any side more delicious, make a bangin’ Mac & Cheese, and help even the pickiest of eaters eat their vegetables with a smile!
Ingredients:
– 3 Tbsp Butter
– 3Tbsp Flour
– 2 cups Milk
– 1/4 tsp Salt
– 1/8 tsp Pepper
– Pinch of Nutmeg, freshly grated
– 6 oz of cheese, grated
How I make It:
– Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat
– Whisk in flour to create a roux and cook about 2-3 minutes, or until the flour smells a little nutty.
– Gradually pour in milk and whisk vigorously to avoid lumps, pouring in more milk while whisking the mixture smooth until it has all been combined.
– Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg and whisk continuously for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce has completely thickened.
– Turn off heat and add grated cheese a little at a time, whisking until thoroughly combined.
– Taste for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
Tips:
* Warming the milk before adding it will make it easier to whisk the sauce smooth. I put mine in the microwave on high for about 1 1/2 -2 minutes.
* While whole milk is pretty standard, you can use a combination of milk, cream, and/or half and half, depending on what you have in your fridge. I don’t recommend a sauce made only from skim milk as it won’t hold together very well, but I often do a skim milk and half and half combo because that’s what I have around.
* To make this gluten free, substitute rice flour for regular all purpose flour and it will take an additional 3 minutes or so of whisking for the sauce to completely thicken after adding the milk.
* Use cheeses that are good for melting (I love Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby, Gruyere, just to name a few).
* I turn off the heat but keep the pot on the warn burner while I add the cheese, so that their is enough warmth left to melt the cheese. If you continue to cook the sauce after adding the cheese, it will become grainy.
* Serve immediately or keep warm in a thermos.
Having a quick and easy cheese sauce can help transform any ordinary dish or side in to a spectacular cheesy event!
Happy Eating!
(For related recipes, check out: Béchamel Sauce & Mac & Cheese)
