Description
Creamy homemade cheese sauce elevates any dish with its rich, velvety texture and irresistible flavor. Melted cheese blends seamlessly, creating a luxurious condiment you’ll want to drizzle over everything from vegetables to pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Thickening and Flour Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Create a velvety foundation by melting butter in a medium saucepan over moderate temperature, then whisk in flour until a smooth, golden paste forms without any dry spots.
- Gradually stream milk into the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from developing, and continue cooking until the mixture transforms into a luxurious, slightly thickened consistency.
- Lower the heat and introduce grated cheddar cheese, stirring gently until the cheese melts completely and integrates seamlessly into a silky sauce.
- Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling in salt, paprika, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring each ingredient is thoroughly distributed throughout the sauce.
- Once the cheese sauce reaches a creamy, uniform texture, remove from heat immediately to preserve its perfect consistency and rich flavor.
Notes
- Always grate cheese fresh for the smoothest, meltiest texture that coats ingredients perfectly.
- Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent breaking or becoming grainy, which can ruin the sauce’s silky consistency.
- Consider using different cheese varieties like Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or a blend for more complex flavor profiles.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same thickening technique.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg