Recipe
Classic Creamy White Sauce
A smooth white sauce made from butter, flour and milk, ready in minutes for pasta, vegetables, fish or baked dishes.
Ingredients
Method
5 mins prep8 mins cook13 mins total
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring, to make a smooth paste.
Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth, then keep whisking as the sauce comes to a gentle simmer and thickens.
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously, until glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then use immediately or keep warm over low heat.
Notes
Cook the flour briefly before adding the milk, then whisk steadily as the sauce thickens.
About this recipe
This classic white sauce is a useful kitchen staple: a gently cooked butter-and-flour base whisked with milk until smooth, glossy and spoon-coating.
Use it to enrich pasta, vegetables, fish or a baked dish. Keep the heat moderate and whisk steadily so the sauce stays lump-free.
