Heavenly Béchamel – Smooth, Shiny and Perfect for Lasagne

This smooth and shiny béchamel starts with a classic plant-based roux and finishes in a silky, spoonable sauce. It’s endlessly useful – pour it, layer it, stir it into something bubbling. A gentle staple that brings comfort and cohesion to everything it touches.

Stainless steel pan on the front left side of a stainsteel hob; the pan has creamy béchamel sauce inside

Print Recipe

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 6

Total Time 7

Course Sauces

Cuisine French-Influenced

Servings people

Calories 207

Ingredients

50 g butter | unsalted
50 g plain flour
500 ml oat milk | ensure a sugar-free plant milk
1 pinch nutmeg | freshly grated is ideal
½ tsp salt
5 ml lemon juice
3 g nutritious yeast

Instructions

1. Make a white roux

Melt the butter in the saucepan over a low heat.
50 g butter
Add the flour and mix thoroughly; allow the flour to cook for 2-4 minutes. You will see it change colour slightly as the flour cooks, and it will smell a little toasty.
50 g plain flour

2. Add the milk to make béchamel

With your whisk at the ready, add the milk slowly to the roux and whisk on the low heat, allowing the sauce to thicken nicely.
Continue to cook for 2 or 3 minutes to allow the béchamel to thicken.
500 ml oat milk

3. Add extras for additional flavour

Add the nutmeg (ideally use freshly grated - it's a better flavour), the salt and also the lemon juice. Whisk and mix. Add the nutritional yeast, whisk and mix. Your béchamel will be thick, shiny and without lumps.
If you are using it immediately, great!
If not, then cover the entire surface with clingfilm to seal out the air (this avoids a 'skin' forming) and 'cold hold' in the fridge until it's needed. To reheat, peel off the clingfilm, and reheat the remaining sauce in a pan on a low heat, or in a microwave for 1 minute intervals, using a whisk to stir and 'wake it up'!
1 pinch nutmeg, ½ tsp salt, 5 ml lemon juice, 3 g nutritious yeast

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 2gSodium: 437mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 260IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 185mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional values are estimates only and will vary depending on specific ingredients used. Nutrition is per serving. Information is for the main recipe, not optional accompaniments.