Description
Indulgent Cheese Sauce elevates crispy fries with creamy cheddar and smooth parmesan, creating a mouthwatering comfort classic. Drizzled over hot potatoes, this irresistible blend brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your plate, making you crave each savory bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2% works best)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce or Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Warm a medium saucepan over moderate flame and melt butter until it becomes silky and transparent.
- Sprinkle flour into the liquefied butter, whisking vigorously to create a uniform, golden roux without any granular texture.
- Gradually introduce milk into the mixture, continuously stirring to prevent any potential clumping or uneven consistency.
- Allow the sauce to simmer gently, watching as it transforms and thickens into a velvety base, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and fold in the shredded cheese, creating a gradual melting process.
- Incorporate garlic powder and paprika, stirring consistently to distribute the aromatic seasonings evenly throughout the sauce.
- Continue mixing until the cheese dissolves completely, producing a luxuriously smooth and creamy texture.
- Sample the sauce and delicately adjust salt and pepper levels to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately over crispy fries for optimal taste and temperature.
Notes
- Adjust cheese types by mixing cheddar, monterey jack, or gruyere for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder for a silky smooth texture.
- Enhance sauce richness by using whole milk or adding a splash of heavy cream for extra indulgence.
- Keep sauce warm by using a double boiler or low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent separation and maintain creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg