Step 1

Heat a saucepan. Keep the heat to a low and add the butter.

Step 2

When the butter melts and starts to bubble, then add 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour or 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.

Step 3

Using a wired whisk stir the flour quickly as soon as you add it. Keep on stirring so that no lumps are formed.

Step 4

The frequent stirring helps the flour to cook evenly. You will see the flour frothing and bubbling up while stirring.

Step 5

Sauté the flour till you get a nice cooked aroma from the flour and a pale golden color. Don't brown the flour.

Step 6

Keep the heat to the lowest and then pour the cold or chilled milk in a gentle stream. Pour the milk with one hand and stir the sauce mixture with the other.

Step 7

The milk has to be chilled, so that lumps are not formed. If you use hot or warm milk or milk at room temperature, lumps can be formed.

Step 8

Do stir frequently while the milk warms and heats up.

Step 9

On a low heat, simmer the sauce till it thickens.

Step 10

When the sauce has thickened well and coats the back of a spoon, turn off the heat.

Step 11

Keep the saucepan on the kitchen countertop and add the seasonings - ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, a generous pinch of nutmeg powder or grated nutmeg and salt as required.

Step 12

To make a cheese sauce, you can add 2 tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese or 1 tablespoon of grated vegetarian parmesan cheese.

Step 13

Mix very well and set aside. Do note that on cooling white sauce will thicken more. So you can keep the consistency accordingly.

Step 14

Boil 4 cups water with ½ teaspoon salt in a pan.

Step 15

When the water comes to a boil, add the penne pasta.

Step 16

Cook the pasta on a medium to high heat or according to package instructions.

Step 17

When the pasta gets done to an al dente texture, turn off the heat. For a softer texture, you can cook the pasta more if required.

Step 18

With a large strainer spoon, strain the pasta, draining all the water.

Step 19

Add the cooked pasta to the white sauce.

Step 20

Add ¼ teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried basil and dried thyme. You can add your choice of herbs. At this step you can even add some steamed or cooked or sautéed or roasted veggies.

Step 21

Mix very well.

Step 22

Serve white sauce pasta garnished with some fresh herbs like parsley, chives or dill. You can also garnish with some grated cheddar cheese of you like.