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A small serving bowl with a blue pattern on it filled with mornay sauce with a spoon being lifted out of it.

Mornay Sauce

Course: Sauce
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Classic French sauce recipe, Mornay
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 160kcal
Mornay sauce builds on the classic French bechamel sauce and adds Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses to make the perfect dipping sauce.
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Ingredients

  • cup whole milk
  • ½ large onion peeled and sliced in half
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 cloves
  • Pinch nutmeg ground, optional
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup Gruyere cheese
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper

Instructions

  • Use the cloves to attach the bay leaves to the cut-side of the onion halves.
  • Combine the milk with onion, bay leaf, and cloves in a small saucepan.
  • Simmer on LOW for 15 minutes, uncovered.
  • Discard the onion, bay leaf, and cloves.
  • Meanwhile, in a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.
  • Stir in the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring often until flour is fully incorporated into the butter. Cook for a couple of minutes.
  • Slowly whisk in the warm milk and bring the sauce slowly to a simmer, whisking constantly. Add ground nutmeg if desired.
  • Keep over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 to 5 minutes, until just thickened.
  • Add the cheeses and stir just until melted. Add salt and pepper and stir to combine. Serve at once. If serving a little later, add a few more splashes of cream and reheat over low heat, stirring often, until you reach the desired consistency.

Video

Notes

This Mornay sauce is best right from the stove, but it can be reheated with the addition of a little more milk or cream and brought to a low simmer on low heat.  
We shred our Gruyere with our shredding attachment with our food processor.  You can also process it into crumbles in your food processor.    A box grater does the trick, too. 
Reheat the prepared Mornay sauce by adding a few splashes of cream and heating over low. 

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 391IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 195mg | Iron: 1mg