Cheddar Cheese Sauce

By Leite's Culinaria

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk (more, if needed)
2 tablespoons (1 oz) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 teaspoon ground cayenne or store-bought or homemade hot sauce
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Prep Time15mins
Cook Time15mins
Servings8

Instructions

Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles ring the edge of the pan.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in another saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the bubbling butter.

Stir constantly until a thick paste, or roux, forms. It may become quite thick and almost paste-like. This is okay. And if it doesnât become crazy thick, thatâs okay, too. Expect this to take 1 to 2 minutes.

Constantly whisking, slowly pour the warm milk into the flour and butter mixture in a steady stream.

Continue cooking and whisking until the mixture thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. It should be thick but still spreadable and pourable.

Stir in the cheese and whisk until completely melted.

Season with the cayenne or hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until the sauce is smooth.

If youâre the fussy sort (um, like me), strain the sauce through a sieve to remove any lumps before serving. The sauce will thicken even more upon cooling.