Making homemade cheese sauce is actually pretty simple. You can use any medium firm cheese that you like, therefore making it as mild or as flavourful as your heart (and tastebuds) desire. If you’re not sure where to start, medium cheddar’s a good place. If you want a stronger cheese taste, then opt for an old or very old cheddar. Other good options would be Monterey Jack, or Mozzarella, for a very mild sauce.
Do we need to tell you that cheese sauce is delicious over steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, and baked potatoes? I bet we don’t. Other natural pairings are mushrooms, peas, spinach, and tomatoes.This would also be a great cheese sauce to pour over nachos, or to make macaroni and cheese – just make the sauce, boil some macaroni, and combine.
How To Make Cheese Sauce: 2 Key Points!
The key thing to know about making cheese sauce is that the flavour is highly dependant on the cheese you are starting with. The flavour of whatever cheese you use is going to mellow when cooked. So for example, if you want a really cheddar-forward flavour, you have to use a strong cheddar cheese. You can easily vary the flavour by using different kinds of hard cheese. Think about what you are going to eat it with and go from there.
The second key thing to pay attention to is the temperature when you add the cheese. Turn the heat down to low and whisk in the grated cheese. Keep the temperature just high enough so that the cheese melts.
We Didn’t Invent this Cheese Sauce
We can’t claim to have invented this recipe! Cheese sauce recipes have likely been around almost since there’s been cheese, which is apparently 7000 years and counting!
Cooking for Mixed Groups
At today’s table, you might easily find a meat-eater along with a vegetarian or a vegan. One simple way to make a meal for mixed groups is to start with a plant-based recipe, use it as a main for vegans, top it with something cheesy for vegetarians, and combine it with meat or offer it up as a side for omnivores. For that formula, this cheese sauce is our perfect “something cheesy” for the dairy-lovers.
For groups with mixed diets, you can easily cook up some of your favourite veggies, top them with cheese sauce for the vegetarians and omnivores and make the Mother Mix sauce, with a couple extra tablespoons of nutritional yeast for the vegans. Or if you want to get a little fancier (but not much more time-consuming!) try our Zucchini and Green Pea Fritters. These are 100% plant-based, so they are perfect for the vegans in the group. Vegetarians and omnivores can enjoy them with a nice drizzle of cheese sauce!
Simple Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups cheese, grated {any hard or semi-hard cheese, such as Cheddar, Montery Jack, Edam, Gouda}
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour, making a paste. Let the flour/butter cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the milk. Turn up the heat to medium and cook stirring until the sauce is thickened.
- Turn the heat down to low and add in the cheese, stirring to combine.
Notes
Cooking Tips
- The main problem that can occur is a bit of curdling. You can usually fix this with steady whisking.
- If it’s too runny, add more cheese. If it’s too thick, add more milk.
- The flavour of the sauce is highly dependant on the flavour of your cheese. Use cheese you love and you will have cheese sauce you love! Keep in mind that cooking will reduce the strength of the cheese. So for example, if you want a strong cheddar flavour, use the strongest/oldest cheddar you can find.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is an estimate, based on cheddar cheese.Nutrition
Pin Simple Cheese Sauce Recipe for later!
0 comment
[…] If you are looking for a vegetarian or reducetarian option, these fritters are great topped with a generous drizzle of Simple Cheese Sauce. […]