Skip to main content

Classic Béchamel Sauce with Farfalle Pasta


I love quick and easy meals—they make life so much simpler. This pasta dish takes just 30–40 minutes to prepare, yet it tastes absolutely delicious and looks so impressive that everyone assumes you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. I made it with a white sauce, slightly different from the classic béchamel because I enjoy adding my own twist. It’s a wonderful alternative to the usual tomato-based sauces. 

Originally of Italian origin, the béchamel sauce is the standard white sauce. Immigrating from Tuscany, Italy to the royalty of France, the béchamel, previously named Balsamella, was easily adapted into the rich French cuisine. They renamed it after the chief steward to King Louis XIV, the marquis de Bechamel, and quickly found a number of delicious recipes to adapt it into. 

Béchamel sauce, also known as white sauce, is made from a white roux (butter and flour) and milk. It has been considered, since the 17th century, one of the mother sauces of French cuisine. It is used as the base for other sauces (such as Mornay sauce, which is Béchamel with cheese). 

This sauce goes well with any kind of pasta and tastes absolutely yummy. Also, it's great when added in between the layers of lasagna. 

While I adore the taste and flavor of this classic sauce, I can’t resist adding a few extra ingredients to make it even more delicious. In this version, I’ve included mushrooms, spinach, and a touch of cheese for added richness. It pairs beautifully with any pasta shape—I chose farfalle for this dish.

So, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 500 gms dried pasta
  • 200 gms white button mushrooms
  • 100 gms spinach (blanched)
  • 2-3 cloves of finely chopped garlic
  • 2-3 cheese slices (cheddar)
  • 1 tbsp of dried basil leaves

For the Classic Béchamel white sauce:

  • 4tbsp butter
  • 3tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups warm milk
  • 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg 
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Method:

  • Prepare and cook the pasta al dente or according to the instructions on the pack. Drain and set aside. 
  • For the sauce, begin by melting butter in a saucepan on medium heat. 
  • Once melted, add the flour and whisk until there are no lumps and the mixture turns a light brown colour, about 3 minutes. 
  • Add the milk, a little bit at a time, and whisk until smooth; bring to boil and cook for about 5 minutes stirring constantly, or until the sauce has thickened. 
  • Remove from heat. Stir in salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside until ready to use. This is the classic sauce. 
  • In another pan, heat oil and add the garlic. Once the flavour starts to come add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for a while. Then add the blanched spinach leaves. Sauté till all the water has evaporated. Pour in the prepared white sauce and the cheese slices. Cook for about 2 mins till all the ingredients comes together. By now, it would have turned into a nice and creamy texture. Check the seasonings and add salt & pepper, accordingly. 
  • Add the cooked pasta and mix it well. Sprinkle the dried basil leaves and serve immediately. 

Yummy, smooth & creamy pasta is ready. If you like wine....then this pasta pairs well with a glass of red wine. 

Bon appétit!!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crunchy Veggie salad with a thousand island dressing

A salad is one such dish which consists of small pieces of food mixed with a sauce. It may contain virtually any type of ready to eat food. What I like about salads is that we can be so creative with the ingredients which is based around a wide variety of foods like vegetables, fruits, cooked meat, eggs, nuts and leafy greens. Garden salads use a base of leafy greens like lettuce, arugula, kale or spinach; they are common enough that the word salad alone often refers specifically to garden salads.  Other types include Mexican bean salad, tuna salad, Lebanese fattoush, Greek salad, Thai Raw Papaya Salad and Japanese somen salad (a noodle-based salad). The sauce used to flavor a salad is commonly called a salad dressing; well-known types include Ranch, Thousand Island, Caesar and French vinaigrette. Salads can be served at any point during a meal such as an appetiser or side dish or as a main course.  Food historians tell us salads (generally defined as mixed green...
Post a Comment
Read more

Christmas Fruit Cake—Because It’s Not Christmas Without It!

♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪  When December arrives, that’s the melody that plays in my head. Christmas is perhaps the most widely celebrated holiday across the world, shaped by centuries of both religious devotion and secular customs. At its heart, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on December 25th in most nations. Yet the festivities begin weeks earlier, filling homes and streets with vibrant lights, stars, and beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Many families also create a small manger scene to honor the nativity. The season is alive with carols sung in joy, kitchens bustling with homemade treats, and hearts open to generosity. Known as the “season of giving,” Christmas inspires people to exchange gifts with loved ones and extend kindness to those in need. On Christmas Day itself, traditions often include wearing new clothes, attending church services, lighting fireworks, and gathering for a grand feast with family. It is a tim...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jaipur - Lost in the Pink City, Leaving Footprints Where Royalty Once Tread

We recently took a short vacation to Jaipur, and I still find myself mesmerized by its beauty. Often hailed as one of Rajasthan’s most enchanting destinations, Jaipur captivates with its charm and magnificence. Famously known as the Pink City , it owes its name to the striking pink sandstone buildings that line its streets, creating an atmosphere that feels both regal and welcoming. Jaipur is a city that overwhelms and enchants in equal measure. Its bustling streets pulse with energy—markets brimming with vibrant textiles and jewellery, majestic palaces and forts rising in grandeur, and a kaleidoscope of colourful people weaving through the chaos alongside cows, pigeons, and rickshaws. Every corner offers a sensory feast, with aromas of rich delicacies tempting your taste buds and leaving you utterly captivated. Jaipur means city of victory. The city is named after the king Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who left the city of Amber and founded a new capital in the 18th century. When t...
Post a Comment
Read more