Dairy-Free Creamy Béchamel Sauce Recipe

Name: Dairy-Free Creamy Béchamel Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 17 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive (or canola oil); 2 tablespoons white flour; 2 1/2 cups soy milk (unsweetened, use a brand that uses a thickening agent, such as Silk); Salt (to taste); Pepper (to taste)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 7 mins

Total: 17 mins

Servings: 8 servings

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Béchamel is a basic cream sauce that is a staple white sauce used in French cuisine. Because it is typically made with dairy products, a modified recipe is necessary to make it dairy-free or vegan, replacing the dairy products with plant-based milk and oil.

The sauce is typically prepared by making a roux—whisking butter and flour together over low heat and then adding milk or heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Some traditional recipes will also sauté a combination of onions, carrots, and celery before adding it to the other ingredients.

This simple savory cream sauce is delicious served with vegetables, fish, meat, and grain dishes. But it is also a blank canvas that can be dressed up with spices, herbs, or vegetables. This dairy-free version is a go-to sauce for many dishes.

1/4 cup olive oil, or canola oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups soy milk (unsweetened, use a brand that uses a thickening agent, such as Silk)
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Gather the ingredients.
In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the oil.
Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wire whisk for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the flour smells slightly toasted but is not burning.
Whisking constantly, add the soy milk, carefully pouring it down the side of the saucepan. The sauce will sizzle and bubble slightly, and it is important to continue to vigorously stir at this point to prevent your sauce from forming clumps of flour or burning. If this should happen, simply pour your sauce through a fine sieve or strainer before serving.
Cook the sauce until desired thickness is reached.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot. This sauce is best served right after it is made.

Ways to Use Béchamel Sauce

This dairy-free version of béchamel sauce can be used to thicken foods such as soups or stews without cream or milk. Enjoy it over bread and with savory items such as meat dishes. Other dishes that use béchamel sauce include lasagna, soufflé, macaroni and cheese, casseroles, and gratins. You can also include it when making the best tuna noodle casserole or vegetable pot pie.

Storing Béchamel Sauce

This sauce is sensitive to heat and air. Cool the sauce soon after cooking and store it immediately. Before storing the sauce in the refrigerator, be sure to cover the sauce with cling film actually touching the sauce. This will prevent the sauce from forming a skin or hardening. Then cover the sauce with a lid in an air-tight container. The sauce can be kept safely for four to five days in the refrigerator. It can be frozen as well. To use the sauce, reheat it to 165 F in a saucepan before serving.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
99	Calories
8g	Fat
4g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g	10%
Saturated Fat 1g	3%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 183mg	8%
Total Carbohydrate 4g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 94mg	7%
Iron 0mg	2%
Potassium 97mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.