Make this creamy White Sauce Pasta (Bechamel Sauce Pasta) from scratch in just30 minutes. It makes for a perfect lazy dinner and is really popular among kids.
Heat 5-6 cups of water in a large pot over high heat.
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt to it.
Reduce the heat to medium.
Add uncooked pasta to the pot and cook for 8-9 minutes or until the pasta is just cooked, stirring a few times while cooking.
Note – To check if the pasta is cooked properly, lift a pasta shape from the boiling water using a slotted spoon. Cut the pasta in half using a knife and check the center. The pasta should not have a white ring or spot in it or be opaque in appearance if it is cooked properly.
Do not overcook the pasta otherwise, the final dish will become mushy.
Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the remaining.
Keep the cooked pasta aside.
Make The White Sauce
Start by heating butter in a large skillet over medium heat
Once the butter is melted and slightly hot, add garlic and onions and cook for a minute, stirring frequently.
Add carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and bell peppers to the skillet and saute for a minute.
Now add all-purpose flour and cook for a minute, stirring continuously. This butter and flour mixture is called ROUX.
Set the heat to low.
Pour the warm milk and whisk well using a wire whisk.
Add salt, black pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and cook the sauce on low heat until it starts to thicken, stirring continuously.
Stir in heavy cream and cheddar cheese and cook until the cheese melts.
Add Pasta To The Sauce
Add the cooked pasta along with 1 cup of the water in which it was cooked to the skillet and mix well.
Note - If you are planning to serve the pasta even an hour after making it, then add another cup of milk to the sauce as the pasta thickens considerably once it starts to cool down.
Cook on medium heat for a minute.
Add roughly torn basil and mix well.
Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.
Garnish with red pepper flakes, and dried oregano, and serve hot.
You can use any pasta of your choice. Just make sure that you don't overcook it. Ideally, it should be cooked Al-Dente, but I like my pasta just a notch more cooked than Al Dente.You can also choose pasta made with whole wheat or other grains for a healthier version.Do not miss the garlic! It adds a beautiful flavor to the pasta. Also, add seasonings such as red pepper flakes, oregano, and black pepper according to your taste. Always use whole milk. It adds to the richness and creaminess of the pasta. If you like your pasta extra creamy, reduce the quantity of milk, and increase the quantity of heavy cream. You can also add chicken, shrimp, diced ham, or any other meat along with the veggies. You can even skip the veggies and just use the non-veg protein.