béchamel
noun
bé·cha·mel
ˌbā-shə-ˈmel 
variants
or béchamel sauce
or less commonly bechamel
or bechamel sauce
plural béchamels or béchamel sauces also bechamels or bechamel sauces
: a creamy white sauce made with milk, flour, and butter and often salt, pepper, and nutmeg
Prepare the béchamel with 1 oz. of butter, 2 tablespoonfuls of flour, and 1 1/2 pints of hot milk. Season it with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and let it cook for at least 15 minutes.—
Elizabeth David
Elizabeth DavidBechamel is … made of butter and flour, stirred over heat with milk and ground nutmeg until thick and savory.—Patrick Evans-Hilton
Patrick Evans-HiltonBéchamel is the base for a number of creamy dishes, including gratins, macaroni and cheese, and creamed spinach.—Rebecca Hays
Rebecca HaysWe then added a filling of peas, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots and more ziti …, all held together with a béchamel sauce.—Larry Edelson-Kayne
Larry Edelson-Kayne… a quick, easy recipe elevated by creamy and buttery bechamel sauce.—The Fort Morgan (Colorado) Times (online)
The Fort Morgan (Colorado) Times (online)Examples of béchamel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ragu sauce and bechamel are fillers between each layer.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Bianca al Forno is a white lasagne with a classic bechamel base.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
No trendy or costly ingredients went into her one-pot dishes, no spices beyond salt and pepper, no sauces other than homemade bechamel, mayonnaise or vinaigrette whisked up quickly with a fork.
—Jamie Schler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
A little leaning tower of lasagna features chestnut pasta and roasted chestnuts, bound in rich bechamel and cheese, hinting of speck (smoked ham) and scented with sage.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
Nutmeg is used to make classic bechamel sauce, which is frequently used in lasagna and other pasta dishes.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2023
The mac-n-cheese has an elevated pasta feel thanks to rigatoni noodles and a beefy bechamel sauce as its base.
—Alex Darus, cleveland, 28 July 2023
Spring for the sumptuous conch fritters — near-liquid with bechamel and onion in the center and light and golden as the best tempura outside.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 May 2023
After your salad of choice, ponder entree options including mafalde pasta Bolognese and meatballs; handkerchief pasta stuffed with meat ragu, ricotta and mozzarella and baked in bechamel; or braised short ribs with rigatoni and vodka cream sauce.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Bianca al Forno is a white lasagne with a classic bechamel base.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
No trendy or costly ingredients went into her one-pot dishes, no spices beyond salt and pepper, no sauces other than homemade bechamel, mayonnaise or vinaigrette whisked up quickly with a fork.
—Jamie Schler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
A little leaning tower of lasagna features chestnut pasta and roasted chestnuts, bound in rich bechamel and cheese, hinting of speck (smoked ham) and scented with sage.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
Nutmeg is used to make classic bechamel sauce, which is frequently used in lasagna and other pasta dishes.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2023
The mac-n-cheese has an elevated pasta feel thanks to rigatoni noodles and a beefy bechamel sauce as its base.
—Alex Darus, cleveland, 28 July 2023
Spring for the sumptuous conch fritters — near-liquid with bechamel and onion in the center and light and golden as the best tempura outside.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 May 2023
After your salad of choice, ponder entree options including mafalde pasta Bolognese and meatballs; handkerchief pasta stuffed with meat ragu, ricotta and mozzarella and baked in bechamel; or braised short ribs with rigatoni and vodka cream sauce.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2023
Dictionary Entries Near béchamel
Cite this Entry
“Béchamel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/b%C3%A9chamel. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share