One can use this gluten free bachamel sauce (pronounced “bay shoe mel) as a base for any cream sauce. You may add spices, or pureed roasted red peppers, cheese, and more. Often times, when using potato starch to thicken sauces it tends to thin when reheated. I used tapioca starch in my old recipe, and now a new thickener that stays thick. What will you use to flavor this sauce? Be creative! Make a chili bechamel and stuff some crepes with ground beef and sauteed onion and peppers. This sauce really is a blank canvas.
A gluten free bechamel sauce that will turn heads when they're told it's gluten free. Perfect when using Namaste Perfect Flour Blend!
Ingredients:
- 4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
- 1 Tablespoon brown or white rice flour*
- 1 cup milk (I used non-fat.)
- Salt or sweeten, to taste
Instructions:
- Melt butter in skillet on medium high. Do not allow to burn.
- Whisk in rice flour.
- Slowly pour in milk while whisking constantly.
- Cook and continue to whisk until it thickens. If it gets too thick, add more milk; if it too watery, mix a little cold water or milk with some flour/starch and pour in, stir until thickened.
Tips
UPDATE: The photo represents the use of tapioca starch, but I've found brown or white rice flour works best.
Hi and thanks for your recipe. For some reason my bechamel turned up too sticky.
Thanks for all the info. Is arrowroot gluten free?
Moira,
Arrowroot is gluten free. If you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease check with the manufacturer about their procedures on how they prevent cross-contamination of gluten. More importantly, do they test for cross-contamination.
Carla
Hi Carla
I want to use this for a veggie lasagna. Not sure this will be enough. How would I increase it?
Also, if you had to pick arrowroot, potato or tapioca, which would you use?
Thx
Harriet
Harriet,
I don’t list arrowroot as an option, but I haven’t tried it in a gravy or sauce yet. To increase the amount I would suggest doubling.
Ok thanks. Won’t use Namaste though b
I thought arrowroot WAS tapioca starch?! Or is tapioca flour/powder different from starch? Thanks.
Deborah,
Arrowroot is different than tapioca. Here are two articles that may help you: http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/gluten-free-substitutes/ and an article that I wrote for Answers.com: http://glutenfree.answers.com/gluten-free-ingredients/tapioca-starch-vs-tapioca-flour-and-more.
I hope this helps you, Deborah.
Carla
I love bechamel sauce because it is so versatile. When I make mine, I always like to add a bit of nutmeg and/or a tiny bit of broth.