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béchamel sauce

British  
/ ˌbeɪʃəˈmɛl /

noun

  1. a thick white sauce flavoured with onion and seasonings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of béchamel sauce

C18: named after the Marquis of Béchamel , steward of Louis XIV of France and its creator

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The pasta starts with béchamel sauce that’s stirred in with sweet butternut squash purée and a “rich, nutty, and tangy blend of Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses,” according to TJ’s.

From Salon Sep. 29, 2025

It also has a triple truffle cheese béchamel sauce, while the crunchy bits on the top of a lasagne are replicated with shavings of pasta sheet.

From BBC Mar. 9, 2023

I like using béchamel sauce instead of ricotta because it holds the mouthwatering lasagna layers together and gives the dish an overall creamy texture.

From Seattle Times Jan. 4, 2022

Croquenuts, a Croque Madame hybrid featuring a griddle doughnut filled with havarti cheese, béchamel sauce and an egg.

From New York Times Jun. 1, 2016

Mince the boiled lobster meat, add to it 6 drops anchovy sauce, lemon juice and cayenne to taste and 4 tablespoonfuls of béchamel sauce.

From 365 Luncheon Dishes A Luncheon Dish for Every Day in the Year by Anonymous

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