We have a super easy white sauce recipe for you to use in lasagna, pasta, casseroles, or even as a dip. Unlike a traditional Béchamel, this version skips the flour roux. Let’s get to it!
Ingredients for this easy white sauce:
- 8 oz (1 cup) creamy spreadable cheese (such as cream cheese or a Brazilian-style requeijão);
- 1 cup whole milk;
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced;
- Salt to taste;
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese;
- 1 can (approx. 10 oz) table cream (Nestlé Table Cream or similar);
- 1 tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in a little water;
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter.
How to make this easy white sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the diced onion;
- Sauté the onion until translucent;
- Add the milk, table cream, and the spreadable cheese;
- Whisk or stir very well until combined;
- Stir in the grated Parmesan and taste to check seasoning;
- Add salt to your preference;
- Slowly pour in the dissolved cornstarch while stirring constantly over medium heat until the sauce reaches your desired consistency;
- Once thick and creamy, it’s ready to use in your favorite dishes.
A quick note on cornstarch:
Cornstarch is a fine powder derived from the endosperm of corn. It is widely used in cooking as a thickening agent for soups, sauces, and puddings.
It is famously known by the brand name “Maizena,” which was developed in the United States in 1842. Interestingly, the name comes from maíz, the Taíno word for corn.
To produce cornstarch, corn kernels are soaked, de-hulled, and the germ is removed. The remaining grain, which is almost entirely starch, is ground into the fine powder we use in our kitchens today.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Share it with a friend! We have plenty more delicious sauce recipes on our site.