Béchamel is a creamy sauce of French origin that, due to its versatility, has now become a fundamental component of Italian cuisine.
It is a white sauce with a full and delicate flavor that is made, in its traditional version, essentially with three main ingredients: milk, butter, and flour. To this basic mixture, spices and flavors can be added to create different variants.
The vegan version of béchamel, which does not use eggs, does not include the use of butter and milk, which are replaced with plant-based ingredients such as vegan margarine (or EVO oil) and soy milk (or almond milk or oat milk).
Homemade béchamel is made in no more than 5 minutes with a very simple procedure and the results are significantly better in terms of authenticity compared to commercially available béchamel.
How to Make Béchamel
Traditional Béchamel Recipe
Ingredients
- 50 g of butter
- 50 g of flour
- 500 ml of fresh milk (whole is better for a fuller flavor, but low-fat is also fine)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Nutmeg (optional)
Method
- Place the butter in a saucepan and melt it completely over medium heat;
- Add the sifted flour mixing it with the butter gradually to prevent lumps;
- Cook the mixture for a few minutes on medium-low heat, continuing to stir, then add the milk and stir again until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency;
- Finally, season with a pinch of salt and pepper;
- At this point, depending on your taste, you can grate some fresh nutmeg to enhance the flavor.
Béchamel is essential in many Italian recipes such as lasagna, cannelloni, and many other dishes. It can be customized by adding, for example, cheese for a creamier variant or additional flavors like garlic or herbs for a more intense flavor.
Vegan Béchamel Recipe
Ingredients
- 50 g of vegan margarine or vegetable oil (such as olive oil)
- 50 g of flour
- 500 ml of plant milk (such as soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Nutmeg (optional)
Method
- Melt the vegan margarine (or heat the EVO oil) in a saucepan over medium heat;
- Add the sifted flour mixing it little by little to prevent lumps;
- Gradually add the soy milk (or almond or oat) and stir again until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency;
- Finally, season with a pinch of salt and pepper;
- Again, if desired, you can grate some fresh nutmeg to enhance the flavor.
The vegan béchamel can be further customized by adding grated vegan cheese, garlic powder, or aromatic herbs to vary the taste according to personal preferences.
This vegan version of béchamel is used in many vegan recipes and is suitable for anyone following a dairy-free diet.