Today I want to share a basic recipe bechamel, which is a creamy white sauce that is easy to make and goes great in a variety of recipes. In Mexican cuisine, flavorful sauces play such an important role. That is also the case in Italian cuisine, seeing as how a lot of pasta dishes have a variety of different sauces.

This recipe is super easy to make and is one of my favorite recipes when I am getting ready to do some Italian cooking. My kids love Italian food, so we often are experimenting with different types of pasta and sauces, including this one.

What is béchamel sauce?

Bechamel is one of the “mother sauces” of Italian cuisine. In its basic form, it is a white cream sauce that consists of a combination of butter, flour, and whole milk. It can be used in a variety of Italian recipes, but is most well known as a layer in lasagna. It also can be used as the base sauce for macaroni and cheese and other pastas.

How do you make bechamel?

This is one of the most simple recipes that you can make. To start, you need the following ingredients:

• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons of flour
• 4 cups of cold milk (whole)
• 1 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• Salt to taste

Start by heating up a large saucepot over medium heat and add the butter, letting it melt. Be careful not to let it burn, because that will affect the flavor.

After the butter has melted, add the flour to the pot and mix well until a somewhat thick paste forms. The French term for this initial mixture is a roux and is what will eventually thicken this sauce. Let it cook over low heat for a couple of minute, but do not let it burn.

Add a cup of milk, stirring constantly, and then slowly add the rest of the milk. You will want to stir it constantly for about 5 minutes, or until it starts to thicken. At that point, you can add the nutmeg, pepper, and salt to taste and stir.

The final result should be a smooth, creamy sauce. The longer you leave it over the heat, the thicker it will become. If it gets too thick, add a bit more milk and continue stirring.

That is it! Now that you have your bechamel sauce, you can use it in your favorite Italian recipes or even as a sauce for tasty veggies.

Let me know in the comments below how it turned out and what your favorite way to serve it is.

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Homemade Bechamel Sauce

This creamy white bechamel sauce is easy to make and goes great in a variety of Italian recipes.

Course Appetizer, Sauce

Cuisine Italian

Keyword bechamel, sauce

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 9 minutes minutes

Total Time 14 minutes minutes

Servings 16 1/4 cup servings

Calories 95kcal

Author Charbel Barker

Ingredients

• 1 Stick unsalted butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt more or less to taste

Instructions

• Melt the butter in a large saucepot over medium heat
• Add the flour and mix well until a roux is formed. Let cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.
• Add the milk one cup at a time, stirring constantly.
• Stir for about 5 minutes, or until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Add the nutmeg, pepper, and salt to taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 11/4 cup serving | Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 0.004mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The post Homemade Bechamel Sauce appeared first on My Latina Table.

Para Leer en Español Haz Click Aqui

There is nothing better than making delicious food with totally fresh ingredients, which is a common characteristic of authentic Mexican cuisine. Ever since I shared my recipe for enchiladas verdes here on my site, people have been asking me to share my enchiladas rojas (red enchiladas) recipe.

Today, I am going to do just that. Keep reading to find out how how to make these delicious enchiladas with a homemade, creamy, and delicious red enchilada sauce.

The key to what makes this recipe great is the homemade red enchilada sauce. It is made with dry chilies, that you can find online or in the Hispanic section at your local grocery store.

To add the perfect amount of creaminess, this enchilada sauce includes a touch of heavy whipping cream. You can find pre-made red enchilada sauce in most store in many different varieties, but there is nothing like this homemade version. One bite, and you will believe me!

Red Enchilada Recipe

For this recipe you will need 2 ancho chilies, and 3 Anaheim or guajillo chilies. They will need to be de-seeded and boiled. If you need a refresher on how to do that, check it out on my barbacoa tacos recipe.

You will also need 4 fresh tomatoes, 2 cloves of garlic, and 1/4 onion, all lightly charred. Finally, you will also need 2 tablespoons of sour cream (separate from the heavy whipping cream). You will blend all of the ingredients together, before straining out any leftover seeds and heating it up before adding to the the enchiladas.

The chicken filling is almost as important as the sauce in making sure that these red enchiladas are the best ever. This recipe reminds me of growing up in Mexico when my mom would always make this easy recipe on the weekends so that we had more time to do family activities.

I remember how my mom always used to teach me how to season the sauce and the chicken filling while we spent time together talking and having fun.

These delicious red enchiladas go great with freshly chopped lettuce and radishes, and topped with queso fresco – or any other cheese that you want. My husband uses mozzarella, because he is not a big fan of queso fresco.

Another great thing about these enchiladas is that they don’t have to be baked, but they can be! We have tried them both way, and both are delicious!

How did they turn out for you?

If you loved this recipe, check out these other delicious meals:

• Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas with Pico De Gallo
• Fast and Easy Mexican Mole Enchiladas
• Homemade Enchiladas Verdes
• Tacos Al Pastor Recipe Homemade Version
  

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  The Best Red Enchilada Recipe

  Once you try this red enchilada sauce, you will never need to buy store-bought again!

  Course Main Course

  Cuisine Mexican

  Keyword enchiladas, mexican recipe

  Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

  Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

  Total Time 30 minutes minutes

  Servings 14 enchiladas

  Calories 180kcal

  Author Charbel Barker

  Ingredients

  For the Red Enchilada Sauce

  • 2 Ancho Chilies dried, de-seeded and boiled.
  • 3 dried Guajillo or Anaheim Pepper de-seeded and boiled.
  • 4 Fresh tomatoes lightly grilled
  • 2 cloves of garlic lightly grilled
  • 1/4 onion lightly grilled
  • 3 Tablespoons of sour cream
  • 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream

  For the Chicken Filling

  • 1 Chicken Breast cooked and shredded
  • 4 Ounces of Cream Cheese
  • 1/4 red onion chopped
  • Cilantro
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

  Accompaniments

  • 14 Tortillas

  Instructions

  For the Red Enchilada Sauce

  • Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce except for the heavy whipping cream, and blend until smooth.
  • Strain out any seeds and add to a skillet, bringing to a slight boil.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream, and let boil for 5 additional minutes. Reduce heat to low.

  For the Chicken Filling

  • In a hot skillet, add a small amount of olive oil and then add the shredded chicken, the onion, and the cilantro.
  • After about 5 minutes, add the cream cheese, and stir in with the chicken until well incorporated.
  • Season with salt and pepper and let cook for an additional five minutes.

  To Make the Enchiladas

  • Lightly fry the corn tortillas in oil and pat dry.
  • Dip each tortilla in the red enchilada sauce, covering both sides completely.
  • Fill each tortilla with some of the chicken filling, and some cheese if desired.
  • At this point you can add them to a baking dish, top with mozzarella cheese and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
  • If you do not want to bake them, just put them on a plate, top with lettuce, cheese, and radish and serve immediately.

  Nutrition

  Serving: 1enchiladas | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1865IU | Vitamin C: 4.9mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1.5mg

The post The Best Enchiladas Recipe (Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce) appeared first on My Latina Table.

Leer en Espanol. 

I have mentioned in other recipes that breakfast in Mexico is the most important meal of the day. That is why I love finding making delicious recipes like this bananas foster french toast. Although this particular type of breakfast may not be common in Mexico, I sure do love making it for my family here in the United States!

A couple of years ago, my husband planned a weekend escape for our anniversary. He secretly planned everything, from who would watch the boys, to the fancy dinner, to a couples massage, and a nice hotel. This all came as an amazing surprise for me. It was a very relaxing weekend and we were able to try some great restaurants too.

The restaurant that we went to for breakfast was beautifully decorated and had a great environment. It also just happens to be where we first this amazing breakfast, which is also considered a classic new orleans dessert, bananas foster french toast. It was so delicious and I couldn’t stop eating it even though it was a very large portion! The best part about this recipe is that it is so easy to make and can be made in only a couple of minutes with a handful of ingredients!

Those that know me know that I love spicy, savory foods. I like sweets too, but they always come second. For example, sometimes I will buy ice cream thinking that I will be eating it soon, and a few days later when I am ready to eat a nice big scoop of vanilla ice cream, I come to find that my husband already finished it off days earlier!

All that said, there are some sweet recipes that I can’t stop eating like this delicious dessert.

What is Bananas Foster French Toast?

Bananas foster is a a delicious and sweet treat that was created by chef Paul Blangé in new orleans. It consists of rich ingredients like heavy cream, overripe bananas, melted butter, dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon and vanilla. It was named for Richard Foster, who was the chairman of the New Orleans crime commission. It is traditionally made with dark rum as well, but this recipe omits that but is still amazing and super easy to make.

Bananas foster is typically served with vanilla ice cream, but it also goes great with French toast. All you have to do is make the French toast, then the sauce, and drizzle it over the top. Served with whipped cream and fruit, this makes for an amazing final dish.

Ever since we made this for the first time, it has become very popular in our house. The kids always request it for their birthday breakfast and my husband makes it every Sunday for a special breakfast.

How Do You Make Bananas Foster?

One of the great things about this particular recipe is that it is easy to make and uses common ingredients like leftover bananas, heavy whipping cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.

I always start by making the french toast, because the bananas foster sauce doesn’t take very long to make and it is great served warm.

To make the bananas foster sauce, you will need the following ingredients:

• unsalted butter
• brown sugar (light or dark is fine)
• vanilla extract
• ground cinnamon
• heavy whipping cream
• bananas

For the French toast, you will need the following ingredients:

• Brioche bread (or any other bread that you prefer)
• heavy whipping cream
• vanilla extract
• cinnamon
• eggs

To make the sauce, start by melting the butter over low heat in a large skillet, and then adding the brown sugar. Next, you add the ground cinnamon and vanilla and let it simmer for about a minute. Finally, slowly add the heavy whipping cream, stirring quickly until you get the delicious creamy texture. The last step is to add the sliced bananas and stir until everything is combined. One of the best parts of this recipe is the warm bananas, so once they are a bit soft, remove from the heat and it is ready to serve either on top of the ice cream or the french toast, depending on how you are serving it.

For the French toast, you will start by combining the eggs, heavy whipping cream, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix well and then get out the bread that you have chosen to use.

Heat a skillet to medium heat, and then dip each piece of bread in the liquid and cook until golden brown on each side. Serve quickly with the bananas foster sauce and enjoy!

I hope that you will try this recipe on one of those lazy days where everyone is at home, relaxing and spending time as a family. The secret to making this bananas foster french toast is having nice, thick bread, and making the Bananas Foster sauce with extreme caution so that it doesn’t burn.

Some people add rum or banana liqueur to the recipe, but I don’t like it, so I haven’t included it in this recipe. In my opinion it doesn’t affect the flavor at all so give it a try!

Other Delicious Breakfast Recipes

If you are looking for some more great breakfast recipes, sweet or savory, check out these:

• Strawberry and Cream Stuffed French Toast Recipe
• Sweet Crepes with White Chocolate Whipped Cream + 10 Fun Ideas for Crepe Fillings
• The Best Huevos Rancheros 
• The Best Chilaquiles Recipe  
• Avocado Toast with Machaca Eggs and Pico de Gallo
• Tex-Mex Breakfast Tacos Recipe

Be sure to try this recipe and don’t forget to leave a review in the comments below

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Bananas Foster French Toast

Bananas Foster French Toast is a perfect recipe for any occasion. The flavors are unbeatable and everyone will love it. 

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast, french toast

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Calories 555kcal

Author Charbel Barker

Ingredients

For the French Toast

• 10 Slices of Thick Cut Bread I used Texas Toast
• 1-2 cups of whipping cream
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 tbsp of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tbsp of vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp of sugar
• 1 Pinch of salt

For the Bananas Foster

• 1/2 Cup of butter
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup of whipping cream
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 2 Bananas cut into round slices

Instructions

French Toast

• Combine all of the ingredients except for the bread, and mix well.
• Submerge each slice of bread in the mix, and turn it over to make sure the other side is covered as well.
• Melt some butter in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the toast, one side at a time until slightly browned. Set aside

Bananas Foster

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the sugar and stir well.
• Let simmer for about one minute.
• Add the cinnamon and vanilla and let simmer for about a minute.
• Slowly add the heavy whipping cream, stirring quickly until it has a smooth, creamy texture. Let simmer on low heat for about 2-3 minutes and then add the sliced bananas.
• Serve immediately over the French Toast with whipped cream and powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

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Nutrition

Serving: 2Slices of French Toast | Calories: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 199mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 1585IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.7mg

The post The Most Delicious Thirty-Minute Bananas Foster French Toast Recipe appeared first on My Latina Table.