Vegan Béchamel

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Béchamel

• classic white sauce: this is one of those staple recipes that you can use in so many dishes!
• super creamy: oat milk is higher in fat than other plant milks, which helps create the perfect creamy texture!
• customizable flavors: add in different flavorings to your liking- make an herbed sauce or vegan cheese sauce.
• can be made thicker or thinner: this recipe includes instructions on how to create a thicker or thinner sauce, so you can use it in any cooking application you’d like.

Ingredients

Today we’re using simple ingredients instead of the dairy products that are in a classic roux. Below are the main ingredients plus a few notes on substitutions & add ins!

• Oat Milk, like Oatly Original or Silk Extra Creamy Oat Milk
• All-Purpose Flour
• Vegan Butter or Extra Virgin Olive Oil, like Country Crock Plant Butter or Earth Balance
• Salt and Black Pepper



Substitutions & Add-ins

• Flour: to make this gluten-free you could try subbing in an all-purpose gluten free flour blend, glutinous rice flour or chickpea flour.
• Nutmeg or Garlic Powder: add in a pinch of nutmeg or other spices to infuse the plant milk.
• White Pepper: feel free to use white pepper instead of black pepper in this sauce.
• Vegan Parmesan or Nutritional Yeast: Violife Vegan Parm would be a great cheesy addition!

Helpful Equipment

Below are some helpful tools to make the best creamy dairy free white sauce.

• Medium Saucepan
• Whisk: to create a lump-free vegan white sauce
• Measuring Cups: to accurately measure all the ingredients

FAQ and Troubleshooting

Can I make béchamel with Oat Milk?

Yes, oat milk is a great substitute for dairy milk because it has a higher fat content and is thicker than other plant milks.

How do you thicken oat milk?

This vegan béchamel uses all-purpose flour (to create a roux) to thicken the oat milk. Oat milk is naturally thicker than other plant milks lending itself well to creamy sauces like this one.

Which plant milks should I not use?

I don’t recommend using thinner plant milks like rice milk or some almond milks that are on the watery side. (If using almond milk, I recommend Trader Joe’s or Silk Extra Creamy Almond).