White Sauce Pasta at Home: Creamy, Cheesy and Easy

White sauce pasta is a cafe favourite that is easy at home. A simple sauce of butter, flour and milk, plus a few veggies, makes it creamy. A shake of Grella Garlic at the end adds garlic and cheese flavour without extra chopping.

What you need (serves 2)

• 1 and a half cups pasta (penne or macaroni)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons maida (plain flour)
• 1 and a half cups milk
• 1 cup chopped veggies: capsicum, sweet corn, carrot, broccoli
• 2 to 3 teaspoons garlic cheese seasoning
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Grated cheese (optional)

Method

1. Boil the pasta in salted water until just cooked. Drain and keep a little of the pasta water.
2. In a pan, sauté the veggies in a little butter for 2 to 3 minutes and set aside.
3. Melt the rest of the butter on low heat, add the maida and stir for a minute without letting it brown.
4. Pour in the milk slowly, whisking all the time, until the sauce is smooth and thick.
5. Turn the heat off, stir in the seasoning, then add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add the pasta and veggies and toss. Loosen with a splash of pasta water if it is too thick. Top with grated cheese.

Tips

• Whisk while you add the milk so the sauce stays lump free.
• Taste before adding salt: the seasoning already has flavour.
• For a cheesier sauce, use Grella Cheddar instead, or half and half.

Questions

Why is my white sauce lumpy? The milk went in too fast. Add it slowly and keep whisking, on low heat.

When do I add the seasoning? At the end, with the heat off, then stir it through the sauce.

Also try cheese Maggi, or browse all seven Grella flavours.