Classic Velouté Sauce

Make the blond roux: In a heavy-bottomed 6 cup saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add the flour and whisk together until the butter and flour mixture has small bubbles but does not brown, about 2 minutes.

Stir in the stock: Whisk in 1 cup of the stock all at once, and continue to whisk until it is smooth and lump-free. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1 cup of stock, salt, and pepper. Over medium heat, bring the sauce to a low boil (small bubbles break over the surface of the sauce), stirring constantly with a whisk. Once the sauce reaches a low boil, keep whisking the sauce for 2 minutes.

Store the sauce: Use immediately or pour into a storage container. Spread the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter over the surface of the hot sauce to keep a skin from forming. Cool the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes before refrigerating or freezing, covered with a lid.