Pasta is more than a tasty one-pot dish; it’s also a comfort food for many people. There’s something about pasta that appeals to both children and adults. Unsurprisingly, it’s on the menu at every eatery, from a little café to a fine-dining restaurant. Pasta tends to amaze everyone, whether served with a red sauce bursting with tomatoes or a creamy white sauce. When it comes to pasta, creamy white sauce penne is hands down my favorite.
What Is White Sauce Pasta?
White sauce pasta is that go-to comfort dish that never lets you down. It’s just boiled pasta mixed in a creamy white sauce prepared with maida, milk, butter, peppers, and vegetables. You can make it even better by adding cheese! The ingredients for the dish are boiled pasta, milk, butter, maida, grated cheese, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and oregano. These ingredients are all quite common and simple to get.
Ingredients
Here is the list of ingredients to make a creamy white sauce penne pasta recipe.
Pasta - I used semolina penne pasta. But feel free to use your favorite pasta of your choice, like chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, spaghetti, linguine, macaroni, pasta shells, or any grain-free, gluten-free pasta. For a low-carb meal, you can use zoodles or spaghetti squash instead. Vegetables - I have used bell peppers, carrots, boiled sweet corn, and broccoli. You can also add mushrooms, fresh green peas, baby corn, black olives, or any other veggies of your choice. Chop them into small cubes so that they cook faster. Garlic - Freshly minced garlic adds a great flavor to the dish, so don’t skip it. Butter - Use either unsalted or salted butter to prepare the roux. Flour - I used all-purpose flour (aka maida). You can substitute it with whole wheat flour. Milk - Use full-fat whole milk or half and half. Heavy cream - It is optional. It adds a richer and more creamy flavor to the dish. It also helps to thicken the sauce. Cheese - I used mozzarella cheese. You can use Parmesan cheese or any processed cheese like Amul. Herbs & Spices – Oregano, red chili flakes, freshly ground black pepper, and salt are used to flavor the white sauce.
How to Make White Sauce Pasta
Cooking Pasta
In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Then stir in the salt. Add the dry pasta to the water, and stir a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions (about 10-12 minutes), occasionally stirring, until al dente or softer according to your desired texture. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve some starchy water for the sauce and drain the pasta in a colander over the sink. Set the cooked pasta aside.
Saute Veggies
Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute until fragrant for about 30 seconds. Then add mixed veggies like carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, sweet corn, and salt. Cook the veggies till they are tender but still crunchy, for around 2 minutes. Turn off the flame and keep it aside.
Make White Sauce (Béchamel Sauce)
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add all-purpose flour, and stir continuously until well combined and smooth. Cook for a minute until the raw smell of the flour goes away. Do not over-roast the flour, and ensure the color of the flour doesn’t change. Slowly add in milk and stir continuously with a whisk until no lumps are left. Then add the remaining milk and whisk to combine. Cook it for about 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens. Once the sauce is slightly thick, add the heavy cream, cheese, oregano, red chili flakes, black pepper, and salt. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. When the sauce coats the back of the spoon, then it is done. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Make White Sauce Pasta
Add the sauteed veggies and the cooked penne pasta to the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta with creamy white sauce. Lastly, transfer it to a serving plate, sprinkle some cheese and red chili flakes, if desired, and serve it immediately Enjoy!
What to Serve with Bachemel Sauce Pasta?
Serve this white sauce pasta with garlic bread, bruschetta, bread sticks, or dinner rolls on the side, and call it a meal. You can also serve some sides, such as roasted potatoes, roasted green beans, roasted asparagus, or cucumber salad, with this pasta.
Storage Suggestions
Make-Ahead: To make this dish ahead, boil the pasta, prepare the white sauce, and saute the vegetables separately. Store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, toss the pasta, roasted vegetables, and white sauce together on the stovetop over low heat until combined. Serve immediately. Storing: White sauce pasta is best served immediately. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat: Pasta thickens as it stands. Add some milk or veggie broth and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop on low heat until warm.
Tips to Make the Best White Sauce Pasta
Al Dente Pasta: Cook the pasta al dente, so the texture of the pasta is firm, not mushy, when tossed with the creamy white sauce. Dont overroast the flour: Saute the flour with butter on low flame only. Make sure the color of the flour doesn’t change. Extra Creamy: Heavy cream, half and half, or a combination may be used in place of the milk to make extra creamy white sauce pasta. Extra Cheesy: If you want your white sauce pasta to be extra cheesy, add an extra ½ cup of your favorite shredded cheese. Consistency: The consistency of the white sauce should not be too thick while mixing up the boiled pasta, else, the pasta will turn dry when eaten later. You can add some reserved pasta water or milk to make it creamy.
Variations
Pasta Variety: Use any kind of your favorite pasta like spaghetti, macaroni, shell, pasta shells, or rotini. Try using whole wheat, lentils, or veggie pasta for kids to make it healthier. Heavy Cream: You can add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream while making white sauce to make it extra rich and creamy. Cheese: You can use any variety of cheese like mozzarella, parmesan cheese, white cheddar, Amul processed cheese to make the creamy white sauce. Vegetables: You can also use veggies like mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, green beans, black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Protein: Add a handful of chickpeas or edamame to add extra protein. Vegan: To make a vegan white sauce pasta, replace regular milk with almond milk, cashew milk, or soy milk. Also, substitute the butter with olive oil or vegan butter. Use vegan cheese or skip adding the cheese. Gluten-Free: To make the white sauce pasta gluten-free, Use gluten-free pasta instead of pasta made with whole wheat pasta. Also, for the white sauce, substitute all-purpose flour, with rice flour, cornstarch, or any other gluten-free flour. Garlic: You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic. Herbs: Fresh or dried herbs like oregano, basil, parsley, or thyme adds great flavor and aroma to the dish. You can also use Italian seasoning mix. Spice: Sprinkle some extra red chili flakes to add a little heat.
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