Name: Vegan Béchamel Sauce (White Sauce)
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 16 min
Ingredients: 2 ½ tbsp dairy-free butter; 2 ½ tbsp all-purpose flour; 2 cups unsweetened soy milk (or oat milk); ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp pepper; ¼ tsp nutmeg

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The easiest recipe to make a basic homemade vegan béchamel sauce, also known as white sauce. Makes every lasagna better!

Béchamel sauce is highly underrated! Such an incredibly creamy white sauce that can be used in so many ways. Plus, this sauce is so easy and quick to prepare in just 15 minutes with only a handful of ingredients you probably have at home anyway.

White sauce is best known in combination with lasagna. I know, I know. Some prefer to make lasagna with ricotta cheese, but the old-fashioned and traditional Italian way always calls for béchamel sauce. And oh boy, let me tell you, the Italians do know why.

This creamy sauce with its cheese-like texture is absolutely mouthwatering combined with pasta and tomato sauce!

Already drooling? Be sure to try this vegetable lasagna recipe – indescribably delicious!

But vegan bechamel sauce is not tied to lasagna. You can use it to upgrade lots of other dishes such as oven-baked vegetables (especially delicious with fennel and cauliflower), lasagna soup, asparagus, potato gratin, and much more.

Feel free to stir in spices of your choice. I like to add curry powder – makes an outstanding fruit curry!

Unsweetened Dairy-Free Milk

Making vegan white sauce is super easy! All you need is dairy-free butter, milk and flour.

I recommend going for unsweetened soy milk or oat milk. However, if you only have sweetened soy or oat milk at hand, it will work too, but you need to season it generously with salt.

Stay clear of nut milk – the nutty flavor is not desirable in this kind of sauce.

Now let me show you how to easily prepare this basic sauce at home. By the way, and in case you are vegetarian and don’t have dairy-free ingredients at home, the recipe will work too with regular butter and milk.

Vegan Bechamel Sauce Recipe

Read through this visual step-by-step guide with lots of extra tips! The exact quantities and everything else you need to know for the recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

Melt the dairy-free butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. ➝ It’s ok if it starts to foam a little, but the flour shouldn’t take on color.

Pour in soy milk and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Reduce heat and let it simmer for approximately 10 minutes until thickened.
Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Recipe FAQ & Tips

How long does it stay fresh? Leftovers can be stored for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can I prepare the béchamel sauce gluten-free? Yes, use a gluten-free flour blend (not almond or coconut flour).

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