Béchamel Sauce

Béchamel sauce is one of the great sauces, and it’s not used nearly as much as it could be. It’s essentially milk thickened with flour, but I always include onion, which adds flavor, sweetness, and umami. Brown the onion first for an even richer sauce. I also usually season it with nutmeg, which is traditional but not always necessary—it depends how you want to use the béchamel. It can be used for gravies, for gratins, for myriad sauces (add mushroom, add cheese). Add ground