White Sauce Pasta (Bechamel Sauce Pasta)

This homemade white sauce penne pasta recipe is rich, creamy, absolutely delicious, and loaded with vegetables.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cup penne pasta
• 3 cups water
• salt (to taste)
• 1/2 tablespoon butter ((or olive oil))
• 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
• 1/4 cup sweet corn
• 1/4 cup broccoli
• 1/4 cup bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sweet corn
• 1.5 tablespoons butter
• 1.5 tablespoons flour
• 1.5 cups milk
• 2-3 tablespoons cheese (grated)
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• black pepper (to taste)
• salt (to taste)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Cooking Pasta ---
2. 2In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Then stir in the salt.
3. 3Add the dry pasta to the water, and stir a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
4. 4Cook the pasta according to the package instructions (about 10-12 minutes), occasionally stirring, until al dente or softer according to your desired texture.
5. 5Once 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.
6. 6--- Saute Veggies ---
7. 7Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute until fragrant for about 30 seconds.
8. 8Then 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.
9. 9--- Make White Sauce (Béchamel Sauce) ---
10. 10Melt 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.
11. 11Slowly 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.
12. 12Once 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.
13. 13--- Make White Sauce Pasta ---
14. 14Add the sauteed veggies and the cooked penne pasta to the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta with creamy white sauce. (If needed, add 2-3 tablespoons of reserved starchy pasta water, it will help to bind and thicken the sauce.)
15. 15Lastly, transfer it to a serving plate and sprinkle some cheese and red chili flakes, if desired, and serve it immediately Enjoy!