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Home » Gluten Free

Gluten Free Bechamel Sauce (Vegan)

Published: Dec 16, 2019 · Modified: Jan 19, 2022 by Janelle Hama

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Creamy gluten-free béchamel sauce that is rich and smooth ideal for uses in pasta, soups, bakes and more. This is also a vegan béchamel sauce.

two types of gluten free bechamel sauce in white bowls, one is yellower due to nutritional yeast

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Jump to:
  • 😋Why you’ll love this recipe
  • ✔️What You’ll Need
  • 🥘Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪Step-By-Step Guide
  • 💭Pro Tips
  • ✔️Variations
  • 🍴Serving suggestions
  • 🥘Related recipes
  • Gluten Free Bechamel Sauce (Vegan)

I've always had a fondness for this white sauce, since learning how to whisk it up in cooking class two decades ago. It originates from France, dating as far back as the 17th century. 

In Arabic béchamel sauce is written as بشاميل , in Lebanon, there is a heavy French influence, due to once being part of the French colonial empire. Bechamel can be found in various adapted Lebanese pasta dishes - Macarona Bechamel.

Traditionally, bechamel sauce is made with white roux; equal parts flour and fat. 

This version of white sauce differs in that the flour is gluten-free and the fat is non-animal. This is a gluten-free vegan béchamel sauce.

😋Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s the classic white sauce that can make a lot of foods fancier
  • Can be used within pasta, bakes, soups or even a dipping sauce for vegetables.
  • It’s lighter than traditional béchamel sauce (less fat)
  • Is ready in minutes

✔️What You’ll Need

bechamel vegan ingredients laid out

🥘Ingredient Notes

Dairy-free milk - you can select your favourite plant milk, I have used both soy and almond milks* which have worked well. Other milks that may work are oat, cashew or rice milk.

Vegan butter I much prefer to use olive oil-based dairy-free butter. 

Gluten free plain flour or all-purpose flour* - a store-bought blend is used. 

Nutmeg* is used in a slight amount to give a wonderfully subtle flavour enhancement to this gluten-free white sauce. 

Nutritional yeast* is optional. This will add a cheesy flavour and will make your vegan béchamel sauce turn a light shade of yellow.

yellow bechamel sauce with a nutritional yeast in a wbhite bowl

The above photo shows how adding nutritional yeast to bechamel sauce will change the colour to a yellow - tastes absolutely delish.

🔪Step-By-Step Guide

Here’s how to make vegan béchamel sauce;

Step one - over low-medium heat, melt vegan butter, once it starts to bubble add gluten-free flour and consistently stir until it has combined and starts to slightly bubble again. Stir for about 1-2 minutes until the flour has completely dissolved.

Step two - add ¼ of plant-based milk and continuously whisk in to rid of any clumps. Repeat this three more times until all milk is used up. If it starts to clump, take it off the heat and continuously whisk until all the clumps are gone and place the saucepan back onto the heat. During the third time of adding milk whisk through nutmeg and salt.

Step three - once bechamel sauce has reached a thick and creamy consistency, it's ready.

gluten free vegan bechamel sauce in a white bowl with a wooden spoon dipped into it

💭Pro Tips

Heat should not be higher than low-medium heat, this is a delicate sauce to cook.

Cooking flour out with butter is essential to rid of any graininess of gluten-free flour. As this is a gluten-free flour, it will behave differently from wheat flour. It will not spread out but rather clump together. Just keep stirring.

Do not brown the roux (GF flour and vegan butter) mixture

Use cold milk for a silky smooth consistency, this is how I was taught in cooking class and it has always worked

Adding in a ¼ of plant milk at a time helps to work and whisk the vegan béchamel sauce ensuring there are no lumps

Use a thick bottom saucepan/pot this will help retain heat when taking it off the burner to whisk and smooth out

Thickening vegan béchamel can be achieved by adding more or less dairy-free milk and gluten-free flour. Do this with little amounts of any of the above at a time.

As this gluten-free béchamel sauce cools down, a layer of skin will form on top, this is normal.

✔️Variations

Nutritional yeast* can be added when adding the nutmeg and salt. You can add as much as you like to suit your desired taste

Dijon Mustard can be added to give this vegan pasta white sauce a little sharpness, start by adding in a ½ teaspoon and adjusting from there.

one white sauce and one yellow sauce in white bowls with wooden spoons

🍴Serving suggestions

Use this vegan béchamel sauce in a gluten-free vegan lasagna (I love it as it makes the best vegan lasagna white sauce), vegan mushroom pasta or within your favourite baked vegan pasta or vegetable bake.

🥘Related recipes

  • a white bowl of sauce with fries around it
    Vegan Fry Sauce
  • Easy and Creamy Shawarma Sauce (Tarator)
  • top down view of a bowl of garlic sauce
    Garlic Dipping Sauce (Lebanese Toum)
  • a piece of lasagna topped with fresh green basil
    Vegan Lasagna (Gluten Free)

Looking for another great pasta sauce, try carrot top pesto by The Flour Hand Print.

How did you use this gluten-free béchamel sauce? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group.

If you’re into fast cooking vids, join me on Tiktok.

Janelle x

two types of gluten free bechamel sauce in white bowls, one is yellower due to nutritional yeast

Gluten Free Bechamel Sauce (Vegan)

Easy creamy bechamel sauce recipe that is gluten free, dairy free and vegan.
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: French
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

  • 600 ml Plant based milk e.g., almond
  • 50 g Vegan butter
  • 50 g Gluten free flour
  • 1 pinch Nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ⅓ cup Nutritional yeast optional - to taste
Metric - US Customary
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Instructions

  • Over medium heat, melt vegan butter
  • Add gluten free flour and stir through, until it has combined with the vegan butter
  • Add in ¼ of the plant based milk and stir through well. Rid clumps by stirring consistently. Repeat this step three more times until all milk has been used.
  • During the third time the milk has been added, stir through nutmeg, salt and optional nutritional yeast.
  • Once bechamel sauce has a thick and creamy consistency, it's ready.

Video


Notes

Heat should not be higher than a low-medium heat, this is a delicate sauce to cook.
Cooking flour out with the butter is essential to rid of any graininess of the gluten free flour. As this is a gluten free flour, it will behave differently to wheat flour. It will not spread out but rather clump together. Just keep stirring.
Do not brown the roux (gf flour and vegan butter) mixture
Use cold milk for a silky smooth consistency, this is how I was taught in cooking class and it has always worked
Adding in a ¼ of plant milk at a time helps to work and whisk the vegan béchamel sauce ensuring there are no lumps
Use a thick bottom saucepan/pot this will help retain heat when taking it off the burner to whisk and smooth out
Thickening vegan béchamel can be achieved by adding more or less dairy free milk and gluten free flour. Do this with little amounts of any of the above at a time.
As this gluten free béchamel sauce cools down, a layer of skin will form on top, this is normal.
Variations
Nutritional yeast can be added when adding the nutmeg and salt. You can add as much as you like to suit your desired taste
Dijon Mustard can be added to give this vegan pasta white sauce a little sharpness, start by adding in a ½ teaspoon and adjusting from there.
 
Serving suggestions
Use this vegan béchamel sauce in a gluten-free vegan lasagna (I love it as it makes the best vegan lasagna white sauce), vegan mushroom pasta or within your favorite baked vegan pasta or vegetable bake.
 
 
 
 
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use

Equipment

pot

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 583kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3429mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1911IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 753mg | Iron: 3mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.


Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Paula

    April 07, 2023 at 10:57 am

    4 stars
    Hey you forgot to add the amounts!! You only mention the 1/4 cup of vegan milk. Otherwise thank you for all the details

    Reply
    • Janelle Hama

      April 07, 2023 at 12:02 pm

      Hey Paula,

      The recipe card contains all the details for this recipe including the quantities and detailed step-by-step instructions. I have taken this on board and will adjust the post accordingly. thanks

      Reply
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