5 Ingredient Vegan Bechamel Sauce

Name: 5 Ingredient Vegan Bechamel Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup raw cashews (, see note); 1 cup cooked potato (, about 1 medium); ¾ cup veggie broth; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 1/8 - ¼ teaspoon white pepper (, see note); Dash nutmeg (, optional depending on recipe making)

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This vegan bechamel sauce is made with only 5 simple ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes! You'll be blown away at the creamy flavor.

It's amazing how simple whole food ingredients can come together to get a traditional dairy flavor. This is the perfect sub for anything that uses bechamel!

A glass jar filled with bechamel sauce sitting on a blue striped towel

This post was originally published on December 27, 2021.

Add this to your list of homemade, dairy free alternatives like Alfredo Sauce, Authentic Tzatziki, and Sour Cream. Whether you are dairy free or simple trying to reduce how much dairy you eat, you won't miss a thing!

Ingredients

I grew up with my mom making the best bechamel sauce, AKA white sauce, for a variety of Greek dishes like moussaka and pastitsio. So when I created this dairy free alternative I had to make sure it tasted just like my moms!

Béchamel is typically made with butter, flour, and milk. This white sauce is often referred to as a "mother sauce", since it is used as a base for many flavors and recipes.

However this vegan bechamel sauce recipe uses only whole food, plant based ingredients to make the best silky, creamy texture!

Raw cashews
Cooked potato
Veggie broth
Seasonings

Bowls with cashews, potato, broth and salt on a blue striped towel on a wooden surface

How to Make Vegan Béchamel

This easy white sauce recipe is basically one step!

Blend everything in a high speed blender.
Use your vegan bechamel in all the recipes!

Top view of a blender on a blue towel with a creamy sauce inside — step 1

A wooden spoon coming out of a jar covered in a white sauce — step 1

What to Make and Serve with Béchamel Sauce

Use this dairy free white sauce to create fabulous plant based recipes like these:

Lasagna
Moussaka
Pastitsio
Scalloped Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Cauliflower Casserole
Broccoli Casserole
Serve with biscuits and a vegan egg for breakfast
Drizzle over a Baked Potato or Roasted Carrots
Use as a dip for Baked Eggplant Fries or Asparagus Fries
Or enjoy as a vegan white sauce for pasta!

Flavor Suggestions

The flavor in this vegan white sauce recipe is mild and can be enhanced with a number of ingredients. Try mixing in any of the following to pair with your favorite foods:

Vegan Parmesan
Nutmeg
Cloves
Bay Leaf
Parsley
Onion
Chives
Tomato Purée
Lemon

Preparation Tips

If you do not have a high-speed blender you need to prepare the cashews.
- Soak them overnight, boil for 30 minutes, or grind them into a fine powder using a coffee grinder.
White pepper is used in this vegan bechamel recipe to keep the color of the sauce smooth without any spots. You may substitute for black pepper but you will be able to see it.
This sauce is ready in no time, even faster if you prep the potato in advance.
- Cook the potato and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 days before making the sauce.

Storage Tips

Store vegan bechamel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.

Common Questions

What is béchamel?

Béchamel is a creamy white sauce with a mild taste used in recipes like lasagna, moussaka, and pastitsio. It is also known as the "mother sauce", as you can easily transform it into more recipes.

How can you make béchamel vegan?

Making bechamel vegan can be as simple as using olive oil in place of butter, and a dairy free milk. Or, simply blend broth, potatoes, cashews, and seasonings.

Can you make béchamel without flour?

Yes you can! This recipe uses potatoes and cashews to create the creamy consistency without the flour.

More Vegan Sauce Recipes

Once you've mastered the staple of vegan bechamel, try out some more vegan sauces! Finish off the best meals and treats with these easy to make plant based sauce recipes: