What do you do when you have leftover bechamel sauce?
Whether it was too much for your recipe or you just made too much, here are some creative solutions of mine to help you use up that deliciousness.
From dips to pizza toppings, there’s sure to be something on this list that’ll inspire you.
So get cooking and enjoy your tasty leftovers.
Create a quick fried pasta dish
You can use your leftover to make a quick pasta dish by simply frying some pasta, adding your leftovers, and stirring until well combined.
For an extra burst of flavor, you could also add in some vegetables, meat, or other ingredients you love.
This is a quick and easy dish that you can whip up in a few minutes, especially if you already have a batch of sauce ready to go.
Use it as a pizza topping
We all know the feeling when we want something cheesy but also flavorful – enter our bechamel sauce.
Instead of using tomato sauce, consider using some of your sauce on top of your pizza.
You can top it with anything that you want and the creamy and deliciousness of the sauce will add a lot to any dish.
Try adding it to a quiche or frittata
Quiches and frittatas are simple dishes that can be personalized to your tastes, an excellent way to use up any ingredients you have leftover.
Simply add some bechamel sauce to a quiche or frittata and enjoy a savory treat.
Make a cheese sauce
If you’d like to create a simple cheese sauce for potatoes or vegetables, simply heat up your leftover until bubbling, then stir in some cheese.
I would recommend a mix of your favorite melting cheese with a bit of Parmesan – the taste will be out of this world.
Add it to a lasagna or bolognese sauce
A creamy bolognese or lasagne is delicious, but adding a few tablespoons of the sauce will boost its flavor.
If you’re making a bolognese, add it in with the mince or use it to top your dish once it’s finished for an Italian twist that’s full of rich flavor.
Create a classic mac and cheese
Macaroni cheese is delicious comfort food – but don’t stop at using a simple cheese sauce.
Spruce it up with some of the sauce in a 50:50 mix for a double-creamy and delicious dish.
I like this method because you can use a simple recipe to make macaroni cheese from scratch, making it an excellent budget meal.
And the best thing is you don’t have to limit yourself with plain macaroni cheese when you can add little twists like this.
Use it as a base for chili con carne
Don’t limit your self-created chili con carne to the dinner table – it’s excellent as a breakfast dish too.
To make an interesting breakfast, simply fry up some diced onion and garlic before adding in your sauce along with minced beef.
Make sweet treats like brownies or creme brûlee tarts
If you want something rich and sweet, use your leftover to make something truly luxurious.
Use it as a base for brownies or creme brûlees by simply pouring into ramekins and cooking according to your preferences.
Make a baked potato topping
Love potato skins but want something new?
Use your leftover as a base for your next batch of potato skins.
Simply scoop out the flesh from baked potatoes, add toppings of your choice, and warm through before putting it all back together again.
This method is as easy as it is tasty and can be changed to suit your tastes.
For example, you could use leftover meaty mince from a previous meal for added protein and flavor.
Use it in place of heavy cream for dipping strawberries in chocolate
If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy chocolate, try dipping strawberries in melted dark or white chocolate before adding your bechamel sauce.
The mild sweetness of the sauce will pair perfectly with the tart taste of the strawberries.
Once you’re done dipping, sprinkle with nuts or coconut to add a little crunch and let the chocolate set.
This is an excellent and healthy way to use up leftover sauce that can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Can you save leftover bechamel sauce?
Yes, but it may be difficult to heat up if you let it solidify.
If you want to use your leftover sauce, I recommend heating it gently over a stove until warm before stirring in any ingredients that need heating.
How long can you keep leftover bechamel sauce?
If you store the sauce in an airtight container and cover it with cling film, it can be kept for up to two days in the fridge.
After this time, the sauce is likely to solidify so I would recommend heating gently on a stove before eating.
Can you use bechamel sauce the next day?
Yes.
Bechamel sauce is best enjoyed within a day of being cooked because it contains milk which will go bad quickly.
If you have any leftover sauce, I recommend using the first portion you need and then storing the rest in smaller portions to use as needed.
Can you freeze bechamel sauce?
It’s not recommended to freeze bechamel sauce as it contains milk.
The dairy will separate and curdle if you try to thaw it out.
(source)
Which sauce is a derivative of bechamel?
Bechamel sauce is the head chef of all cream sauces and forms the base for other types like garlic or onion sauces, cheese sauces, Mornay sauce…
basically any type of sauce that creamy.
(source)
Is bechamel sauce supposed to be thick?
Yes, a good bechamel sauce should be thick enough to lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon.
(source)
How do you stop lumps in bechamel sauce?
To avoid lumps, use a whisk to stir the sauce over low heat.
Add any ingredient that you would like to thicken the sauce first and ensure it’s fully dissolved before adding more ingredients.
You can also try using a blender on low speed for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
How do you reheat bechamel sauce?
To reheat bechamel sauce, simply heat gently in a small pot until the desired temperature.
Make sure not to boil or it will separate.
What are the ingredients of bechamel sauce?
Bechamel sauce contains butter, flour, milk, salt, and pepper.
Other variations may include cream, egg yolks, nutmeg, onion, or garlic.
(source)
Why does bechamel go lumpy?
Bechamel sauce is an emulsion, which means that it contains water-based ingredients that are suspended in fat.
When you first combine the butter and flour into a roux, the mixture will be smooth.
Over time though, the butter begins to melt and release steam as well as some of its water content.
This can cause tears in the sauce and affect its viscosity.
As a result, bechamel sauce will start to go lumpy as it cools.
What types of food use bechamel?
Bechamel sauce is used in many different foods from macaroni and cheese to lasagna but is especially well known as part of the popular Mornay sauce.
The sauce is typically paired with pasta or vegetables and can be baked or broiled to create a golden crust.
Why is my bechamel grainy?
Your bechamel has gone grainy because the fat and flour have separated.
To avoid this from happening, make sure to whisk your ingredients well and use a heavy-bottomed pan.
Conclusion
There are so many ways to use leftover bechamel sauce, you’ll never find yourself bored with it.
Whether you’re looking for a new dinner idea or something sweet and luxurious to enjoy, we’ve got you covered.
So get creative and start cooking up some delicious dishes today.