White sauce, also known as béchamel sauce, is one of the most basic yet versatile sauces in the culinary world. It's a creamy sauce that can be used as a base for many other sauces and dishes, from pasta to vegetables and meats. Today, we're sharing a simple recipe for basic white sauce, along with some variations that you can try.

Ingredients:

• 40 grams plain flour (you can also use gluten-free flour.)
• 50 grammes butter or margarine
• 570ml milk (1 pint) or half milk and half water. (You can use non-dairy milk)
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter or margarine in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the flour and whisk until well combined.
3. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns slightly golden in color.
4. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid any lumps.
5. Keep whisking until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Variations/Uses:

1. Bechamel Sauce: Boil a small onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf in milk and allow to infuse. Strain off and use the flavored milk as above.
2. Mustard Sauce: Add 5ml or one teaspoon of mustard to the flour. Milk may be plain or flavored. Serve over fish.
3. Cheese Sauce: Add 50gm grated cheese to cooked white sauce and heat till it melts.
4. Parsley Sauce: Add three tablespoons finely chopped parsley, and five ml lemon juice to the prepared white sauce and heat through on your own sauce.
5. Onion Sauce: Finely chop one medium onion and cook gently in 10 grammes of butter till soft. Add this to the prepared white sauce and heat through serve with lamb.
6. Celery Sauce: 160gm celery stalks, finely chopped and cooked. Prepare as for onion source, process the sauce in a blender till smooth then heat through and serve.

Conclusion: White sauce is a must-have in any cook's arsenal. It's easy to make, versatile, and can be used in a variety of dishes. With this basic white sauce recipe and the variations we've provided, you can get creative in the kitchen and experiment with different flavors and textures.

Give it a try and let us know how it turns out!

In the picture: A quick fish sauce I made using a white sauce base to which I added ultimate veg spice and chopped parsley.