For those who wish to take this dish into a more robust direction, garlic is a nice addition. Garlic: The next step is the part that allows you to put your own spin on this dish with the addition of spices, herbs and aromatics. Meat: For those who are looking to bring some protein to the table, cooked/sauteed chicken or sauteed shrimp take this simple sauce to new heights. Vegetables: Broccoli, peas, corn kernels, bell peppers (red & yellow) and carrots contribute not just added nutrition, but beautiful color! Use any of your favorite veggies that you prefer. It really is a blank slate for a wide range of seasonings. The flexibility that bechamel sauce offers makes it a perfect candidate for adjusting it to your liking.

The method is rather simple, but must be followed properly for a smooth, velvety sauce. It is thickened with a mixture of butter and flour in equal amounts which is called roux, in French. The backbone of this recipe is the sauce, so getting it right is really the key. It is customizable by changing the vegetables or even the pasta used. This dish offers a well-rounded meal that is satisfying and a great way to incorporate vegetables into a pasta that will please your family. One of the many amazing ways to incorporate white sauce into a really delicious meal is to make White Sauce Pasta. Whether you are using it for pasta or as a base for macaroni and cheese, the end is always a delightfully rich, smooth consistency that you coaxed out of a simple sauce of flour, butter and milk. Once you have learned how to make it well, the options are really endless. It is the base for many other sauces and it offers a great deal of flexibility to your repertoire of recipes.

In classic culinary terms, this is what is known as a mother sauce.

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