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Vegan bechamel sauce is one of those staple recipes that can be used for so many dishes. It's made with vegan butter, flour, dairy-free milk, salt and pepper, and nutmeg. This vegan version of bechamel sauce is easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and is ready in just 15 minutes!
This vegan béchamel recipe is based on a traditional bechamel sauce but is completely dairy-free! It has a wonderful creamy consistency, and you can easily make it to your desired thickness.
If this is your first time making this classic white sauce, you'll love how easy it is to make. This simple vegan bechamel sauce recipe is simmered over medium heat in a small pot. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon, plastic spatula, or whisk, so all the ingredients come together to ensure it doesn't burn on the bottom.
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You can make a big batch of this dairy-free recipe and use it in a variety of recipes. It's easy to fit into your dinner prep without having to spend a bunch of extra time in the kitchen!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Nutty flavor
- Base sauce and very versatile
- Vegan diet
- Healthier than regular bechamel sauce
- Super easy recipe
- Great for lasagna, mac n' cheese, or other pasta dishes
- Dairy-free butter
- Best vegan bechamel sauce recipe ever!
🥘 Ingredients
This dairy free white sauce recipe uses simple ingredients that you can find at most grocery stores, specialty grocery stores, or online. Here are some helpful details about each ingredient.
Vegan Butter: Used instead of dairy butter to make the roux. Be sure the butter is at room temperature before adding it to the pan. It will melt faster and will make sure it doesn't burn. You can also use olive oil for the fat instead of butter.
All-Purpose Flour: Flour is critical to the white roux, and helps this delicious sauce thicken up to become a wonderful a creamy white sauce.
Soy Milk Or Non-Dairy Milk: You can easily find soy milk or other dairy-free milk in most grocery stores.
Salt And Pepper: Traditional béchamel sauce uses white pepper to keep the color consistent, but you can use black pepper if that's all you have on hand.
Ground Nutmeg: Add a pinch of nutmeg if you'd like. This is a great way to give this a nutty flavor.
📖 Variations
- Make tofu bechamel sauce with 10-12oz of silken tofu and only 1/2 cup of non dairy milk for added protein.
- Use a different dairy-free milk: Any of these plant milk options like soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or cashew milk would work.
- Make this into a gluten-free bechamel sauce with gluten free flour instead of all purpose white flour. Chickpea flour, oat flour, rice flour, 1:1 gluten free flour, or tapioca starch would all work.
- Add some vegan cheese like vegan parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella.
- Pour in a little acid like white wine or lemon juice to nicely balance the richness of this creamy sauce.
- Vegetarian béchamel: If you're not concerned with making a vegan béchamel sauce, you can use traditional milk or dairy products instead.
🔪 Instructions
Here is how to make this non dairy bechamel sauce. For more detailed instructions, see the recipe card below.
Make the classic roux: Melt vegan butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Heat the milk in a microwave-safe container until warm (1-2 minutes). Whisk the warm milk into the flour mixture until smooth.
Continue to cook, stirring with a wooden spoon or whisk, for 7-8 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using, whisk to combine.
❓Recipe FAQs
How can I store this easy vegan béchamel sauce?
Keep any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat the sauce in the microwave or in a small pot on the stove.
How to serve vegan gluten-free béchamel sauce?
Serve this vegan white sauce with pasta dishes like vegan mac n cheese, vegan lasagna, vegan pot pie, veggie bakes, or casseroles.
What is the difference between a roux and a vegan bechamel sauce?
These two common sauces are easy to make, but they have different purposes. Roux is made with flour and butter and is generally used to thicken sauces or soups.
Béchamel sauce is also made with butter and flour but has added milk and is a thinner consistency. It's used to pour over potatoes, pasta, lasagna, or casseroles.
Is vegetarian bechamel sauce the same as alfredo sauce?
While béchamel and alfredo are both white sauces, they aren't interchangeable.
Béchamel sauce is simpler to make with butter, flour, and milk. Alfredo sauce is made with butter, heavy cream, garlic, parmesan cheese, and flour.
💭 Expert Tips
- The nutmeg is optional, so you can decide whether you want to add it or not.
- Don't forget to keep whisking the roux as it cooks to help make your sauce super creamy!
- Serve this sauce while it's hot, or heat it up in another dish first.
- You can make this sauce vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or with traditional dairy ingredients. There are many ways to make this sauce fit exactly what you need.
- If the sauce is too thick, add an additional ¼ cup of milk.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools.
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