Keto Bechamel Sauce - Gluten Free Recipe - Diet Doctor (2024)

Keto Bechamel Sauce - Gluten Free Recipe - Diet Doctor (1)

Ever wondered how to make that lovely creamy white sauce without using any flour? It's way simpler than you'd think. Not only gluten-free but also keto and so much easier to make than the original version, without compromising on its authentic taste. What a great addition to your repertoire!

April 19 2018 by Anne Aobadia, photo by Emma Shevtzoff, nutritional review by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE in Recipes, Condiments

Ever wondered how to make that lovely creamy white sauce without using any flour? It's way simpler than you'd think. Not only gluten-free but also keto and so much easier to make than the original version, without compromising on its authentic taste. What a great addition to your repertoire!

USMetric

6 servingservings

Ingredients

  • 1¾ cups 425 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 7 oz. (45 cup) 200 g (210 ml) cream cheese
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

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Keto Bechamel Sauce - Gluten Free Recipe - Diet Doctor (5)

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Making low carb simple

Instructions

Instructions are for 6 servings. Please modify as needed.

  1. Add the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to a medium-sized, nonstick saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, while stirring continuously.

  2. Reduce temperature to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for a few minutes, until a desired consistency is reached.

  3. Prior to serving, season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, to taste.

Tip!

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💬 Have you tried this recipe?

What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

16 comments

  1. 1

    Annie

    April 26 2018

    This is how I make cheese sauce though I do it by eye rather than measuring! I add grated Cheddar and Parmesan for flavour. Using a flavoured cream cheese is nice too. I use Garlic and Herb Boursin (I'm in the UK).

  2. 2

    Beverly

    May 2 2018

    You can achieve an even more traditional tasting bechamel by heating cream and butter in the same proportion you would use for the roux method (2 cups liquid 2 T butter) with a touch of salt. Then take it off he heat and sprinkle with a t of guar gum. (It's a superior product that's crossed over from molecular gastronomy and works brilliantly in any cream sauce. Also for other things like thickening stewed blueberries). Mix the gg in thoroughly and wait a while to see if the sauce texture is what you want. Adjust accordingly. I love cream cheese too, but it doesn't taste like a true bechamel. This does.

    Reply: #6

  3. 3

    Alice

    September 12 2018

    How long can I store this for? Can I make it in advance to just put together my dish when I serve it?

  4. 4

    Birgit

    October 6 2019

    This is probably a very nice sauce. But a true bechamel does not taste like fat and protein only. I therefore think, a thickener instead of cream cheese would make the result come closer to a true bechamel. What method was perfect to mix in guar, xanthan or carob seed flour is another question though. I think, mixing the powder with butter or some other oil/fat and then add that mixture to the sauce would help.

  5. 5

    Dee

    October 21 2019

    I make mine the traditional roux way using almond flour and almond milk. Putting it through the blender once it is fully cooled takes away any grainyness. It's to die for.

  6. Reply to comment #2 by Beverly

    Oscar

    February 19 2020

    Hi Beverly,
    This sounds really interesting
    I will try it;)

  7. 7

    Ema

    May 27 2020

    Even though this is not quite true to the original carby béchamel sauce, it is still a very decent alternative that is super easy to make! Why not try a fennel and endive bake using this sauce as a base and flavoured with onion and lemon.

    Reply: #8

  8. 8

    Reply to comment #7 by Ema

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    May 27 2020

    Even though this is not quite true to the original carby béchamel sauce, it is still a very decent alternative that is super easy to make! Why not try a fennel and endive bake using this sauce as a base and flavoured with onion and lemon.

    That sounds delicious!

  9. 9

    anaelisacornejo

    August 5 2020

    I used some almond milk, seasoned it, and added the cream cheese and whisked away! It came out delicious! A pinch of xantham gum to thicken it up. Made for an amazing pizza sauce! (I would've never thought to do with cream cheese).

    Reply: #10

  10. 10

    Reply to comment #9 by anaelisacornejo

    Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    August 5 2020

    I used some almond milk, seasoned it, and added the cream cheese and whisked away! It came out delicious! A pinch of xantham gum to thicken it up. Made for an amazing pizza sauce! (I would've never thought to do with cream cheese).

    Great! So glad you enjoyed it!

  11. 11

    Nutmeg

    July 6 2021

    Can this bechamel sauce be used for making cheese souffles?

    Reply: #12

  12. 12

    Reply to comment #11 by Nutmeg

    Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    July 6 2021

    Can this bechamel sauce be used for making cheese souffles?

    We have not tested that, but it sounds delicious.

  13. 13

    Donna

    November 25 2022

    Wow! I just made this sauce to replace the sauce (Step 3) in this fantastic green bean casserole for Thanksgiving: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/bas-best-green-bean-casserole. I halved the sauce recipe but otherwise followed the directions and it's fabulous! After tasting I added a pinch more nutmeg and white pepper and BAM! I didn't taste the cream cheese at all and my son, who has made a lot of bechamel sauces, thought it was excellent and couldn't believe it was keto. I made the sauce about an hour before making the green bean casserole and it had thickened up as it cooled. I added the parmesan for the casserole recipe then thinned the sauce just a bit with almond milk before pouring over the green beans. This sauce is definitely a keeper and has endless flavor options! I can't wait to make my Kicked Up Cheese Sauce keto using this as the base. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/spicy-nacho-cheese-sauce/

    Reply: #14

  14. 14

    Reply to comment #13 by Donna

    Kirsty von Boch

    November 25 2022

    Hi Donna, we're so glad it was such a hit! Thanks for sharing your success with us!

  15. 15

    Kim

    March 14 2023

    I add a really aged cheddar cheese and it was delicious.

  16. 16

    Paloma

    April 14 2023

    This is a French bechamel lover woman saying: this is delicious!
    I WANT the high fat/high protein,
    so this is perfect.
    Bye bye carbs, I won't miss you!
    Thank you

Leave a reply

Keto Bechamel Sauce - Gluten Free Recipe - Diet Doctor (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken bechamel without flour? ›

To make your béchamel thicker without flour, reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce while stirring. This allows evaporation to reduce and thicken the sauce, though it will take much longer.

What can I use to thicken sauce on keto? ›

Here is your handy-dandy little cheat sheet for what keto and low carb thickeners to use when:
  1. Konjac Flour (aka Glucomannan powder) : This is ideal for thickening gravies, sauces, soups, and other hot dishes. ...
  2. Xanthan Gum : This is best used to provide structure to keto baked goods.

Can I use cornstarch instead of flour for bechamel? ›

If you're aiming for a gluten-free bechamel or simply want to avoid using flour, cornstarch is an excellent alternative. This also works well if you're lactose intolerant and using lactose-free milk, which can be less forgiving with a flour-based roux.

How to thicken bechamel? ›

If the sauce is too thin: simmer it down – the sauce will thicken quickly or cook a little more flour and butter in a small saucepan on the side, then whisk it into your sauce. Just remember that any bechamel will thicken very quickly after you take the pot off the heat.

What is the best substitute for flour in a roux? ›

How to Make a Roux Without Flour. Roux is commonly made with flour, but you can also sub in cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Mix the cornstarch or arrowroot powder with water to form a slurry before adding it to the pan and cooking it with the fat.

What is a substitute for flour as a thickener? ›

Cornstarch can be subbed in for wheat flour at a 1:2 ratio. Because it's a durable thickener, you only need half the amount of cornstarch to create the same effect. Also, adding cornstarch to a gluten free recipe is a great way to add softness and texture to baked goods while keeping them grain free!

What is a gluten free alternative to thicken sauce? ›

Arrowroot starch works in these sorts of dishes, too. Some sauces are thickened by starting with a “roux” (a butter + flour mixture), traditionally made with wheat flour. White rice or sweet rice flour is a perfectly good substitute.

How can I thicken my keto without flour? ›

Top 5 keto thickener substitutes
  1. Xanthan gum. Used for baking or thickening soups or sauces, xanthan gum has zero net carbs. ...
  2. Guar gum. A plant fiber from the seed of the guar plant, guar gum has zero net carbs. ...
  3. Glucomannan (konjac): ...
  4. Agar agar. ...
  5. Gelatin.

Will almond flour thicken a sauce? ›

Almond flour makes a great thickener for a sauce but don't expect it to act the same as traditional flour. You'll need to cook off excess liquid to achieve a thicker consistency. For a smoother sauce, puree mixture after cooking.

What is a good substitute for bechamel sauce? ›

With a lovely creamy texture, cream cheese is a great bechamel alternative, as it's stable and won't split. It has a slightly tangy flavour, so it won't taste like a traditional bechamel – try flavouring with parmesan, chopped chives or a pinch of ground nutmeg.

Can you buy gluten free bechamel sauce? ›

Maggi Gluten Free Bechamel White Sauce Mix creates the traditional creamy white sauce, an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine. Create mouth-watering lasagnas and delicious pasta dishes with its rich buttery flavour. The sauce also pairs well with fish and seafood.

What is the best gluten-free flour to use for thickening? ›

Tapioca flour: ideal as thickener or for healthy baking.

What can go wrong when making bechamel sauce? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Béchamel
  1. Using the wrong ratio.
  2. Not cooking your roux the correct length of time.
  3. Using cold milk.
  4. Adding all the milk at once.
  5. Not cooking it long enough.

What is the standard thickening agent in bechamel sauce? ›

Flour: All-purpose flour is the thickening agent in bechamel sauce. Combined with the melted butter, it forms a roux, which helps thicken the sauce and gives it that velvety consistency. Milk: Milk adds to the creaminess and helps bind the ingredients together.

What can I use instead of flour to thicken cheese sauce? ›

Cornstarch. The corn starch is going to keep this cheese sauce thick and smooth without any lumps.

How to thicken milk without flour? ›

One of the easiest ways to thicken milk is by boiling it on the stove. As it heats up, the liquid parts of the milk will start to evaporate. Remember to keep stirring the whole time! If you want to make condensed milk, add sugar before you heat it up.

How do you thicken watery sauce without flour? ›

Suitable options include using reduction, vegetable purees, dried mushrooms, egg yolks, cheese or cream, chia seeds, almond and coconut flour, flax meal, konjak powder, nut/seed butter, gelatin and xanthan gum.

How to thicken alfredo sauce without flour or cornstarch? ›

Dairy-Based Thickeners
  1. Egg Yolks. Egg yolks are a terrific thickener for many things and pasta sauce is one of them. ...
  2. Cream Cheese. Cream cheese is another method to add a creaminess to your sauce. ...
  3. Heavy Cream. ...
  4. Parmesan. ...
  5. Shredded Cheese. ...
  6. Butter. ...
  7. Plain Greek Yogurt.

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