Which herb is traditionally used to flavor béchamel sauce?

Béchamel sauce, one of the French mother sauces, is traditionally flavored with a bay leaf. When making béchamel, a commonly used technique involves infusing milk with aromatic herbs to enhance the sauce's depth of flavor. The bay leaf adds a subtle, aromatic element that complements the creaminess of the sauce without overpowering it.

During the cooking process, the bay leaf is typically added to the milk, allowing its flavor to steep and be absorbed during the simmering stage. This infusion results in a rich and complex flavor profile that is characteristic of a well-made béchamel. Once the milk is infused and used in the sauce, the bay leaf is often removed before the final sauce is served, ensuring that the taste from the leaf lingers without any physical presence.

The other herbs listed, while they have their own culinary uses, are not traditional flavorings for béchamel sauce. Thyme, for instance, is often used in savory dishes but is not typical for this particular sauce. Basil and oregano have more prominent uses in sauces like marinara or pesto, which focus on Mediterranean flavors. Thus, it is the bay leaf that is distinctively recognized for enhancing béchamel sauce in classic culinary tradition.