Get To Know Different Types Of Cheese Sauces

If you are a cheese lover, then chances are that at some point or another you have decided to make or buy cheese sauce. While you can purchase it, most of the time it tastes better when made fresh. Instead of opting for a processed or pre-packaged cheese sauce that you just need to heat up, get to know the basic types of cheese sauces so you can make them at home and enjoy the flavors whenever you want.

Mornay Sauce

Mornay sauce is considered one of the classics and it is a type of bechamel sauce typically made using melted Parmesan and Gruyere. To make this sauce, you start off by creating a white sauce with some milk, butter, and flour. Then throw in seasoning such as pepper and nutmeg. Take a separate bowl and mix together cream and an egg yolk before beating them into the sauce mixture. After it cooks for about a minute, take it off the heat and stir in your cheese. This cheese sauce works great with vegetables, fish, and pasta.

Fondue

Most people are familiar with fondue, one of the most popular types of cheese sauce. It is traditionally made with Swiss cheese, but other common options include Raclette, Emmental, and Gruyere; you can also get creative and select your favorite. You typically melt this cheese and then dip various items, such as crusty bread, into it.

Rarebit

Rarebit is a type of melted cheese that is baked into a white sauce and made with beer, giving it a unique flavor.

Four Cheese

Just as it sounds, four cheese is a type of cheese sauce made from four different types of cheese. It is incredibly popular for pasta, particularly gnocchi, but keep in mind that it contains a lot of cheese and therefore high levels of salt and fat. Usually the cheeses in this particular sauce will be milk-based. An example combination of cheeses from packaged four cheese sauce is Italica, Grana (Parmesan), Fontal (Fontina), and Gorgonzola. Some experts suggest Parmigiano, Gruyere, Edam, and mozzarella, showing the true versatility of this sauce.

Making Your Own Cheese Sauce

As mentioned, you will generally get better flavor by opting to make the cheese sauce yourself as opposed to purchasing a store-bought one. When you are making the cheese sauce, shred up the cheese so it is in smaller pieces and will melt quicker and more consistently. Also be sure to add the cheese at the very end, when the sauce is at low heat (or off the flame entirely, but still warm) as this will prevent it from overcooking.