White Sauce

[jennyjoan]

I am going to be doing chicken and bacon pie for Sunday night and I am not very good with white sauces.

Tell me the best of the packet ones. Also will be doing in filo paper and served with a cuppla chips and a salad. Best bought one please. Thanks

[Buenchico]

Even I can make a roux, JennyJoan!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/rouxthebasicwhitesau_13035

However, if I was going to cheat I'd probably go for a tub of Bisto White Sauce Granules, largely because (unlike the packets) they don't seek to tie you down to making a specific amount. £1.85 in both Tesco & Asda.

PS: You can make up the sauce fromthose granules using just water but it's far better made with milk.

[diddlydo]

White sauce is dead easy in the microwave - just put all ingredients into bowl and whisk like mad at 40 second intervals until it thickens. Then microwave gently a bit longer. Job done.

[ummmm]

I don't understand what's so hard about making white sauce. It's just as easy doing it from scratch as it is from a packet.

[jennyjoan]

What could I add to the flavour of the white sauce to enhance a little bit

[ummmm]

A bit of mustard.

[rockyracoon]

If your making a pie I'd just add the meat to the pan after sauteing (sp) some onions and veg etc, add a couple tablespoons of flour, stir, then add some stock. Mix well until thickened.

[jennyjoan]

was thinking of mustard and that's anothr good idea rocky as it wil moisten it up.

[quizbag]

As a quick and easy sauce for my chicken & ham pies I use a small tin of condensed soup - either chicken or mushroom.

[wendilla]

I make mine from scratch and sometimes add a few dried mixed herbs.

[diddlydo]

Add fresh herbs.

[LyndaB]

It's easy peasy to make a white sauce (bechamel) from scratch. Never forget that if it goes a bit lumpy - that's why sieves were invented!

[MargoTester]

If I am in a rush I do the same as quizbag Campbell's condensed mushroom or chicken soup. Lazy but effective!

[Retrochic]

jenny ignore posts that say 'its easy' -things are only easy if you know how to do them and have the skill! Any packet sauce can be 'souped up' by using half milk half cream and if it says 250 ml use only 200 it makes it much thicker which you will need for a pie. For a chicken and bacon pie I would add a teaspoon of mustard and a little dried or fresh sage.