Vegan Bechamel (Easy Vegan White Sauce)

Enjoy the aroma and creamy texture of a delicious vegan bechamel sauce (easy vegan white sauce), perfect to accompany your favorite dishes.

The vegan Bechamel sauce recipe is an easy and delicious alternative to the classic dairy-based Bechamel sauce. With simple ingredients, such as nut or soy milk, olive oil and flour, you can get a delicate and tasty sauce, perfect for dressing pasta, baked vegetables or gratins.

The subtle taste of nutmeg adds depth to this sauce, making it a versatile choice for a variety of dishes. Being vegan, this dairy-free Bechamel sauce fits perfectly with any recipe in which you want to replace sauces made with milk, butter or cheese.

Discover a new way to enjoy the classic taste of Bechamel sauce, without giving up your values and food preferences. Enjoy this easy vegan white sauce and add a delicious touch to your favorite dishes!

The classic Bechamel sauce – origins and history

Bechamel sauce, also known as “white sauce” or “basic white sauce”, is a classic sauce from French cuisine and is recognized for its creamy texture and rich taste. Its origins can be found in France, but there is a debate about the exact time and place of its appearance.

It is believed that bechamel sauce was created during the Italian Renaissance, being mentioned in some cookbooks from that period. However, the first documented records and written recipes about this sauce come from France in the 17th century. The name “bechamel” probably comes from the name of an official of the French royal court of that period, the Marquis de Béchamel, who was associated with the creation and popularization of this sauce.

Béchamel sauce quickly became a staple in French cuisine, being used in a wide variety of dishes, including lasagna, gratins, pasta sauces and more. Over time, its recipe has been adapted and reinterpreted in different culinary cultures around the world, becoming an essential ingredient in international cuisine.

Today, bechamel sauce is appreciated for its versatility and ability to enrich and complete a wide variety of dishes. Although its basic recipe includes only a few simple ingredients – butter, flour and milk – it can be customized and adapted according to personal preferences and culinary needs.

How to use the vegan bechamel sauce in recipes

• Lasagna: Use vegan bechamel sauce between layers of pasta, vegetables and vegan cheese to add a creamy texture and rich taste to your lasagna. You can alternate the layers of bechamel sauce with those of tomato sauce for a perfect balance of taste.
• Cannelloni: Fill the pasta tubes with a delicious mixture of spinach and tofu, then place them in a baking dish and cover them generously with vegan bechamel sauce. Bake them in the oven until the sauce turns golden and the flavors combine perfectly. Try other delicious pasta recipes with white sauce such as my Roasted Garlic Pasta, Vegan Alfredo Pasta or Vegan Cheesy Pasta Casserole.
• Vegetables au gratin: Create a delicious mix of vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli and carrots, and cover them with a generous layer of vegan bechamel sauce. Sprinkle some vegan cheese on top and bake in the oven until the vegetables are soft and the topping is golden and crispy. Try my Sweet Potato Gratin or Spinach and Cauliflower Gratin and veganize them by using this vegan white sauce plus some vegan mozzarella.

The vegan bechamel sauce adds a creamy texture and a rich flavor to any recipe with pasta or au gratin vegetables, without using ingredients of animal origin.

Tips for storing and preserving Bechamel sauce

• Storage in the refrigerator: After preparing the bechamel sauce, let it cool completely at room temperature. Then, transfer it to hermetically sealed containers or jars and store it in the refrigerator. The bechamel sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezing: If you want to keep the bechamel sauce for a longer period, you can freeze it. Put it in freezer-proof containers or bags and label them with the date. Frozen, bechamel sauce can be kept for about 2-3 months.
• Defrosting and reheating: When you want to use the frozen bechamel sauce, move it to the refrigerator to thaw gradually for a few hours or overnight. Then, you can reheat it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until it heats up evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, you can thin it with a little almond or soy milk.
• Taste and consistency testing: Before using it in other dishes, taste the bechamel sauce to make sure it hasn’t lost its flavor. If necessary, adjust the taste with additional spices or a little salt and pepper. You can also add a little vegetable milk to adjust the consistency, depending on your preferences.

Therefore, with these simple tips, you can keep and preserve the vegan bechamel sauce in optimal conditions to be able to use it later in various recipes and preparations.

Flavoring and seasoning the basic vegan white sauce

• Flavoring with garlic: For a Bechamel sauce with a more pronounced taste, you can add crushed or finely chopped garlic while browning the flour. This will add a delicious touch of garlic that will blend perfectly with the creamy sauce.
• Fresh or dried herbs: To add extra freshness and delicious flavors, you can add fresh or dried herbs to the Bechamel sauce. Popular options include fresh parsley, thyme, basil or rosemary. Add them at the end of preparing the sauce to keep their fresh flavor.
• Additional spices: You can experiment with various spices to customize your bechamel sauce. For example, you can add a pinch of nutmeg or paprika to get a richer and more aromatic taste. You can also try adding a pinch of curry or turmeric for an exotic note.
• Adding vegan cheese: If you want to get a Bechamel sauce with a richer and creamier taste, you can add grated or melted vegan cheese. Vegan cheese with the flavor of parmesan or cheddar can enrich the texture and flavor of the sauce remarkably.
• Variants of vegetable milk: Instead of almond milk, you can use other types of vegetable milk, such as oat milk, soy milk or rice milk. Each type of vegetable milk will add a distinct note of flavor and texture, allowing you to experiment with different variations to get the perfect sauce.

By adapting the vegan Bechamel sauce recipe according to personal preferences, you can always get a delicious and versatile sauce, suitable for a wide variety of dishes and recipes.