béchamel

American  

[bey-shuh-mel, bey-sha-mel] / ˈbeɪ ʃəˌmɛl, beɪ ʃaˈmɛl /

noun

1. a white sauce, sometimes seasoned with onion and nutmeg.

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Etymology

Origin of béchamel

First recorded in 1790–1800; named after Louis, Marquis de Béchamel (steward of Louis XIV of France), its originator

Explanation

Bechamel is a rich, pale-colored sauce made with milk. You can make lasagna with bechamel instead of the more traditional tomato sauce. Another name for bechamel — or béchamel — is "white sauce." Making a bechamel is a very basic technique in French cooking which begins with a roux, a cooked mixture of flour and butter, and after slowly whisking in milk, ends in a creamy sauce. The word bechamel comes from the name of a servant of King Louis XIV of France, Louis de Béchamel, who is said to have invented it in the 17th century.

Example Sentences

The sprouts are more like the main event than a side when generously embellished the way these are, with creamy béchamel, Parmesan and pancetta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

So I gave in to indulgence and made a béchamel: one of the five mother sauces of classical French cooking, a simple alchemy of butter, flour and milk that turns heat into velvet.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2025

The pasta starts with béchamel sauce that’s stirred in with sweet butternut squash purée and a “rich, nutty, and tangy blend of Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses,” according to TJ’s.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 2025

Made without any Bolognese or tomato sauce, a white lasagna is a celebration of pasta and vegetables bound together by a creamy béchamel.

From Seattle Times • May 14, 2023

A woman is making béchamel for lasagna, but not the way Grandpa does it.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti