Instructions

• For making basic white sauce, you will need two tablespoons flour, two to three tablespoons butter, two cups of milk, salt and white pepper. The sauce has to be made in a heavy bottomed pan. In addition to this you will need a balloon whisk and a wooden spoon.
• Place the saucepan on medium heat and add butter to the pan. Allow the butter to melt on high heat but do not let it burn. Once the butter starts bubbling, add two tablespoon of flour directly to the pan. Whisk the mixture with a wooden spoon till a thick paste is formed. Reduce the heat and take the pan off the stove.
• Add cold milk to this flour and butter milk. Ensure that the milk is cold. This will ensure that there are no lump formations in the sauce. Add the milk slowly and stir constantly as you do so to achieve the right consistency for your white sauce. Once you have added all the milk to the pan, take a balloon whisk and mix the sauce to remove any remaining lumps.
• Let the sauce simmer and boil on low heat till it achieves a thick consistency. Season it with salt and white pepper. Grating of nutmeg, sherry, chopped parsley or chives are some other ingredients that can be used to flavor white sauce. Adding shredded parmesan cheese to the sauce can also increase its flavor and texture. This cheese white sauce makes for an excellent base for macaroni and cheese or can be used as filling for scalloped potatoes. You can also serve it with buttered mushrooms or chicken and beef slices.