Food & Cooking Recipes Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes Bechamel Sauce for Lasagna Be the first to rate & review! By Martha Stewart Test Kitchen Martha Stewart Test Kitchen The recipes developed by our test kitchen team have undergone a rigorous process of development and testing, ensuring that every element is optimal, from ingredient amounts to method and cooking time. This process includes triple-testing recipes to ensure they meet our high standards. The many stellar cooks and food editors who have been part of our team include Sarah Carey, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Jennifer Aaronson, Shira Bocar, Anna Kovel, Greg Lofts, Riley Wofford, Lauren Tyrell, and Lindsay Leopold. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 30, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Yield: 3 cups One of the mother sauces of French cuisine, béchamel is a true classic. This simple white sauce made with milk, butter, and flour is the basis of other sauces and used in many recipes, like our Lasagna Bolognese. A secret to success with a béchamel sauce recipe is to cook the roux long enough to avoid a floury taste, but don't let it brown. Another tip: whisking constantly while adding flour, then milk, prevents lumps from forming. Ingredients 7 tablespoons unsalted butter 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 ½ cups milk, heated just until steaming Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg ½ teaspoon coarse salt Freshly ground pepper Directions Melt butter in a heavy-bottom, medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes; do not let roux brown. Whisking constantly, add about 2 tablespoons hot milk to saucepan. Pour half of the remaining hot milk into the saucepan in small increments, whisking the mixture constantly, until a smooth paste forms. Whisk remaining milk into pan; add nutmeg and salt. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, making sure to scrape bottom and sides, until sauce is thick and creamy, about 15 minutes; if any lumps form, stir sauce rapidly with a whisk. Season with pepper; remove from heat. Let sauce stand until lukewarm, about 30 minutes, before assembling lasagna. Cook's Notes This sauce is best used fresh, but it can be made 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water before using. Rate it Print