Dairy Free White Sauce (Béchamel)
VEGAN II GLUTEN FREE II DAIRY FREE II SESAME FREE II NUT FREE II SOY FREE II TOP 14 FREE II EGG FREE II FISH FREE II SHELLFISH FREE II NIGHTSHADE FREE
Dairy-free white sauce, beautifully creamy and perfect to use for a variety of recipes. Use this sauce in pasta as a lasagne topping. This basic white sauce recipe is versatile and can be dressed up or dressed down for any occasion.
Notes on ingredients & substitutions
Butter
An array of butter is on the market now suitable for vegans and dairy-free. I used flora block butter. You can use coconut or olive oil instead.
Flour
I used the brand freee plain flour, which is a gluten-free blend. Available at most supermarkets. Or buy it cheaper online here.
Milk
I used minor figures oat milk. Other great choices include tinned coconut milk, rude health, or plenish milk. Always choose plant-based milk for sauces that need to be thickened WITHOUT any gums or emulsifiers like carrageenan.
This stops the sauce from thickening and will make the sauce split and look like scrambled eggs. You can buy rude health and plenish milk in supermarkets. The coconut milk I always recommend is this brand as it has zero rubbish ingredients and only contains 1 ingredient; coconuts.
NB; Be sure to check the milk you use is gluten-free and nut free if you have issues with either.
Ingredients
Tips
This is a really great basic white sauce that can be dressed up. Why don’t you try these options:
Add a 1/2 tsp dijon mustard ( brings out the flavour of the cheese), a tbsp of nutritional yeast & vegan parmesan for a cheese sauce.
Or add 1 crushed clove of garlic to the butter and finish with either tarragon or sage.
Add a punnet of sautéed mushrooms, 1/2 white onion diced, and a clove of garlic to the sauce and whizz it up for a mushroom sauce to use in pasta.
Try heating the milk with a couple of bay leaves and an onion studded with cloves. This is the traditional way of making white sauce. It adds a beautiful flavour, but if you don’t want to faff, warm the milk with nothing else added.
Using this white sauce in a fish pie? Add some dill which is excellent with fish.
Making brandy sauce for Christmas pudding? Use this recipe and add a glug of brandy and 2oz sugar, finish with a splash of dairy-free cream and voila, brandy sauce ready to be served! YUM!
Use this exact recipe but replace the milk with either chicken, fish or vegetable stock. This is called a Velouté sauce and can be used in pies, fricasses and so much more. It is one of the "mother sauces" of French cuisine, listed by the great chef Auguste Escoffier.
Storage & reheating
The sauce will keep in the fridge for 3/4 days, and can be reheated either in the microwave or in a saucepan with a splash of milk.
20 mins prep time
Step by Step
Recipe
2 oz vegan butter ( or coconut oil)
2 oz GF plain flour
600 ml milk of choice
Method
Heat the milk on the stove and bring it up to a boil, then leave it to one side.
Gently melt the butter in another saucepan, and then mix in the flour, and stir for 1/2 minutes. ( this is called a roux)
Add the milk slowly to the roux, and mix till all the milk has been absorbed, allowing the sauce to become thick and shiny before adding more milk.
When all the milk is added bring to a boil. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes.
Support & Freebies
Has your shopping bill increased? Are you looking to save money on your FREE from ingredients. It can also be a pain to have to shop in several stores to get your shopping which is why welleasy have made it well easy to shop for healthy free from allergy specific ingredients. AND its way cheaper than the health stores or supermarkets dont believe me? Take a look for yourself here. Check out my curated shopping list of all my reccomended healthier ingredients that I love to cook with. Heres the link.
If your find cooking for your allergies and intolerances challenging. I also teach cookery classes and can do this in person or via zoom. Contact me here for a tailor-made class to suit your requirements.
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