Techniques
Sauces
Skill
Beginner
1 min

How to turn béchamel into mornay (add shredded Gruyère and mix)

Stir shredded Gruyère into thickened béchamel and mix thoroughly to make a cheese sauce (mornay).

Once béchamel thickens, the chef adds shredded Gruyère and mixes until fully incorporated, describing it as a base for many sauces and dishes.

The short version

  • Mornay = béchamel + cheese (Gruyère shown)

How to do it

  1. 1

    Make and thicken béchamel.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    Add shredded Gruyère to the béchamel.

    Watch this step
  3. 3

    Mix thoroughly until smooth and incorporated.

    Watch this step

What goes wrong

Not mixing enough and leaving unmelted cheese clumps

Stir/mix thoroughly after adding shredded cheese.

Why it works

Cheese emulsifies into the thickened milk base, creating a richer, more textured sauce.

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