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Sauce Mornay (Cheese Sauce)

Sauce Mornay (Cheese Sauce)

Cuisine:

Course:Dinner

0s prep 0s cook 0s ready

About 1 cup Desperate parents have been hiding nutritious vegetables under a cloak of Mornay for decades, and it is the backbone of a good Macaroni and Cheese. It can be spread over everything from cauliflower to lobster, then browned in the oven or under a broiler. Using equal parts Gruyère and Parmesan is traditional, but practically any aged cheese, alone or in combination, can be very good. Try Swiss or Cheddar, or mix milder cheeses with sharper pungent ones like Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton. For a richer, cheesier sauce for broccoli or baked potatoes, use the larger amount of cheese listed below.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup milk
    • Salt and black or white pepper
    • Grated or ground nutmeg
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Melt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat: 2 tablespoons butter
    2. Whisk in until well blended and smooth, about 1 ½ minutes: 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    3. Remove the pan from the heat and slowly whisk in: 1 cup milk
    4. Return the pan to the heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to cook, whisking, until the sauce is smooth and hot and has thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. If you are using this sauce as is, season to taste with: Salt and black or white pepper; Grated or ground nutmeg
    5. Prepare White Sauce I, using 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and 1 cup milk.
  • ¼ to 1 cup firmly packed finely grated cheese (1 to 4 ounces)
  • Salt to taste
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper or hot paprika
  • Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg or mace
  • (A few drops of dry white wine or lemon juice)

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1 White Sauce I
  • ¼ to 1 cup firmly packed finely grated cheese (1 to 4 ounces)
  • Salt to taste
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper or hot paprika
  • Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg or mace
  • (A few drops of dry white wine or lemon juice)

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Prepare: White Sauce I

  2. Step 2.

    When it is smooth and hot, reduce the heat to low and stir in: ¼ to 1 cup firmly packed finely grated cheese (1 to 4 ounces)

  3. Step 3.

    Cook, stirring, just until the cheese is melted, or the cheese may turn stringy. Season with: Salt to taste; Pinch of cayenne pepper or hot paprika; Pinch of grated or ground nutmeg or mace

  4. Step 4.

    Should the sauce become stringy, bring it just to a simmer and whisk in: (A few drops of dry white wine or lemon juice)

  5. Step 5.

    then remove from the heat.

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