Basic White Sauce

Master the art of making a basic white sauce. Correctly made it will have a smooth and velvety texture.

It is good to have the know how to make these basic sauces as you can prepare a number of other sauces just by adding a few simple ingredients.

Basic White Sauce

Ingredients:
1 Tbl Butter
1 Tbl Flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup milk

Directions:
Melt butter in a large skillet or sauce pan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, cook over low heat until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in milk. Heat to a soft boil, stirring constantly and watch closely not to scald the milk. Boil and stir for 1 minute.

This is a thin version. To make this sauce thickened, increase the Butter and Flour amounts. For Medium thickness, increase butter and flour to 2 Tbls, for a Thick sauce increase both to 1/4 cup.

Quick Ideas: Stir 2 cups of a vegetable into the white sauce for creamed vegetable dish or you can Add a tsp mustard and 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese and you have a cheese sauce for easy vegetable recipes.

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Basic French Butter Sauce

A rich, hot butter sauce made with a reduction of white wine and shallots into which cold, whole butter is blended in over low heat to prevent separation.

It is optional to add a couple tablespoons of cream as a stabilizing agent to the shallots and wine once they have reduced.

Ingredients:
1 finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup white wine
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into Tbl blocks
pinch of each salt and white pepper
squeeze of lemon

Directions:

In a large saute pan, place shallots and white wine over medium-low heat and reduce until the wine is almost evaporated, taking care not to let it brown. Add the butter one piece at a time, whisking constantly until the butter is melted and incorporated into the sauce. Add salt and white pepper to taste. Add lemon.

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Velouté Sauce

Velouté sauce is basically a White Sauce made with stock instead of milk.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 Tbl Butter
3 Tbl Flour
1/2 cups chicken, veal or fish stock
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 white pepper
1/2 cup whipping cream, optional
Lemon Juice, optional

Directions:
Melt butter in sauce pan over low heat. Blend in flour, cook stirring for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in broth, whisking briskly to blend.

Over medium heat bring to a soft boil, stirring with the whisk for 1 minute. Add seasonings. Use as is or enrich by gradually beating in cream and simmer 3-5 minutes. Strain with a fine mesh strainer Add lemon juice to taste.

Sauce made with chicken stock should ideally be served with chicken and likewise, a sauce made from fish stock should be served with fish.

Few ideas to flavor the Velouté Sauce :

1. Add to the roux 2-3 Tbl tomato puree and at the end add finely chopped tomatoes.
2. Add 3 Tbl lemon juice and 2 Tbl chopped fresh parsley to the sauce before serving.
3. Add 7 fluid ounces fresh squeezed orange juice after the stock has been added to the roux.
4. Thickened with heavy cream, egg yolks, and season with a few drops of lemon juice.

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Other Sauce Recipes

Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce
Chili Sauce Recipes
Creamy Dill Sauce
Creamy Mustard Sauce
Curry Mayonnaise Spread
Horseradish Sauce
Quick and Easy Sauces
Salsa, Enchilada and Picante Recipes
Seafood Sauce

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