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Classic Alfredo Sauce is a simple but elegant creamy white pasta sauce. Chefs prepare it on the basis of butter, cream and parmesan cheese. Gradually adding seasonings and cream cheese, you will need to get a thick mass.
The end result of this mixture will be amazing. You can also change the classic recipe by adding many new ingredients. This is a universal recipe, suitable for everyone.
History of the Alfredo sauce creation Ā
The birthplace of Alfredo sauce is Rome. One day, the Italian Alfredo had a long-awaited son. The wife’s labor was difficult, then postpartum depression began. A loving man was ready for anything in the world to make his wife smile.
Earning a living in a small restaurant, he decided to do what he knew best – to cook something extraordinary for his beloved. So he put butter, cream, and parmesan in the pan. He seasoned all this with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Well, and pasta, of course, how is it in Italy without it? And so the famous Alfredo sauce was born.
Over time, the product spread all over the world and chefs began to add vegetables, chicken, seafood, mushrooms and other ingredients to the sauce.
Key Alfredo sauce ingredients
To prepare the classic Alfredo sauce, chefs use the following set of ingredients:
- Butter ā try to choose a product with a low salt content, so as not to spoil the sauce.
- Thick whipping cream ā will help make the sauce thick enough.
- Garlic – it is one of the most important ingredients that gives piquancy.
- Parmesan cheese ā chefs advise using soft varieties to make the sauce tender.
- Alfredo sauce seasoning ā here you select everything to your taste or depending on the recipe.
Tools and Equipment
To prepare Alfredo sauce at home, you will need a number of kitchen appliances. They will help you simplify the task of preparing the mass of the desired density. Among the most necessary devices:
- a sharp kitchen knife
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a large saucepan with a thick bottom
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measuring cup
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grater with a small nozzle
You can change the list of necessary items depending on the selected recipe. For example, there is nothing wrong with buying dried or crushed garlic. Then you won’t need to use a grater.Ā
Does oregano or parsley go in Alfredo?Ā
The classic Alfredo sauce recipe includes dried herbs. Therefore, you can safely add parsley and oregano to your future dish. These seasonings will not only add spice to the sauce, but also refresh its taste.
The main thing is to be careful with dosages. Do not add more than one teaspoon of dried herbs to your mixture.
Otherwise, the whole taste of the sauce will simply become monotonous and you will not feel the cream cheese and other important ingredients.Ā
What meat goes well with Alfredo sauce?
Alfredo is a white sauce made from butter and parmesan. Chefs traditionally serve it with classic fettuccine noodles based on eggs and with various pastas. What kind of meat is best suited to Alfredo sauce?
Bacon, minced beef and chicken fillet will be a good combination. Pork is too fatty meat and in combination with a thick sauce you will get a high-calorie dish.
Alfredo white sauce itself is quite fatty and it will perfectly complement low-calorie or not too fatty meat products. In combination with bacon, you should be very careful and observe the proportions specified in the recipe.
How do you thicken Alfredo sauce?
There are several secrets that will help you make Alfredo sauce thick. Here are some of them:
- The starch trick. This is one of the most popular ways to make any white sauce thick. The technique is simple: take 500 ml of Alfredo sauce, a glass of water, a tablespoon of starch and mix.
- The trick with flour and butter. Put an equal amount of flour and cup butter in a bowl. Using a fork or fingers, mix the flour and butter together until a smooth paste forms or until the dough begins to hold its shape. Add the resulting mixture to the Alfredo sauce.
- The Parmesan cheese trick. This is the main ingredient of Alfredo sauce. Just add it a little higher than normal if your product is too liquid.
3-ingredient alfredo sauce
Can you make Alfredo sauce if there are only 3 ingredients at hand? The chefs claim that there is no problem with this. Just prepare parmesan cheese, cream and butter.
Further, the technology of preparation will be as follows:
- Pour the cream into a medium-sized container.
- Add oil and boil, stirring constantly.
- Grate the parmesan cheese Add to the mixture and cook a little more until thickened.
Your Alfredo sauce is ready with only 3 ingredients! This recipe is also suitable for those who do not like spicy seasonings.
How to make alfredo sauce
The classic Alfredo sauce recipe is very simple. You will need the following ingredients:
- two types of cheese: parmesan (120 g), pecorino (30 g)
- cream – 350 ml
- butter – 60 g
- shallots ā 1 piece
- garlic ā 1 head
- black pepper – 1 teaspoon
Technology of preparation:
- Peel the onion and garlic.Ā Grind them on a grater.
- Also finely grate the cheese.
- Melt the butter in a small container.
- Fry the onion and garlic in butter over low heat
- wait for five minutes.
- Add cream and cheese to the mixture.
Serve the traditional sauce hot!
How to season alfredo sauce
You can make the best homemade Alfredo sauce if you learn how to choose the right spices and seasonings. First of all, pay attention to the classic set: garlic powder, ground pepper, and dried dill. If you want to get a spicy cream sauce, add nutmeg, dry Dijon mustard, thyme, basil, red pepper, and oregano.
Also, for an additional Alfredo sauce taste, you can add a teaspoon of olive oil, and replace the parmesan with mozzarella cheese. This will not change the consistency of the product, but it will greatly affect the smell and flavor. You can also use a classic blend of Italian spices for your creamy alfredo sauce.
What spices go good with Alfredo sauce?
To make Alfredo sauce very tasty, add various spices there. Professional chefs believe that the best option is herbs such as oregano, basil, and rosemary. Dried garlic and black pepper are also suitable. They will give the sauce a natural, but at the same time a little spicy taste. You can also use classic Italian seasonings.
A typical set of dried herbs for Italian cuisine includes oregano, garlic, basil, savory and onion. You can buy such a mixture in the store or make it at home.
Homemade alfredo sauce with cream cheese
Alfredo sauce with cream cheese is perfect for any pasta. To make it, prepare all the necessary ingredients:
- cream (22-33%) – 200 ml
- parmesan – 50 gr
- butter – 20 gr
- ground black pepper (pinch) – to taste
- salt (pinch) – to taste
- a mixture of Italian herbs – to taste
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- In a frying pan with a thick bottom, melt the butter over low heat.
- Pour cream into the butter and bring to a boil.
- When the cream starts to boil, add salt and pepper to the mixture.
- Add freshly grated parmesan cheese to the cream.
- Heat over low heat with constant stirring until the cheese melts.
Homemade alfredo sauce recipe with milk
If you don’t have cream in your kitchen, you can use regular milk. This Alfredo sauce will be no worse than the original. Prepare the necessary ingredients:
- butter – 70 g
- parmesan – 100 grams
- milk – 200 ml
- flour – 2 tablespoons
- salt and pepper – to taste
- a mixture of Italian herbs – to taste
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Boil the milk in the microwave.
- Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add butter to it. Melt it.
- Add flour to the melted butter and start stirring constantly.
- Start whipping the sauce with a whisk, adding milk.
- When the sauce thickens, add the grated parmesan cheese and mix again.
You can put this sauce in the refrigerator for 2-3 days to use it for serving with pasta, vegetables or for baking meat and fish in the oven.
Homemade alfredo sauce with heavy whipping cream
You can also make Alfredo sauce without parmesan cheese. To do this, you just need to take thick cream. To repeat the recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- thick butter – 20 g
- ground black pepper – 1 pinch
- cream 33% – 150 ml
- salt – 1 pinch
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Pour the heavy cream into a saucepan and, with constant stirring, boil them for 7-8 minutes.
- When the cream thickens slightly, add salt and pepper to the sauce.
- Grate the parmesan and send it to a saucepan.
- Remove the dishes from the heat and stir until the cheese is completely dissolved.
How to make alfredo sauce without cream
Can you make Alfredo sauce without cream? This is the main and important ingredient that gives the sauce the necessary density. However, you can cook the product without cream.
Prepare the necessary ingredients:
- lemon juice – 0.5 tablespoons
- water – 3/4 cup
- dried thyme – 1/4 teaspoon
- cashews – 1.25 cups
- garlic – 2 cloves
- salt – 0.5 teaspoons
Cooking technology:
- Soak the cashews in water for at least 20 minutes, preferably for 1 hour. Then drain the water and dry the nuts before cooking.
- Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix until a smooth creamy consistency is obtained. Taste it and, if necessary, add salt, thyme or garlic.
Cook your favorite type of pasta, mix with the resulting sauce and steamed spinach. Serve, sprinkled with chopped walnuts, as a vegetarian or lean dish.
Alfredo sauce for pasta recipe
Alfredo sauce for pasta should be slightly less thick than the classic version. To cook a suitable product, prepare a number of ingredients:
- thick cream – 100 g
- butter – 20 g
- parmesan – 50 g
- salt and pepper – 1 teaspoon
Technology of preparation:
- Heat the cream in a frying pan, then add the butter. Stir until smooth.
- Add grated cheese. Stir, add ground black pepper and salt to taste.
Put the sauce in the boiled pasta and serve hot. If your sauce is too thick for pasta, just add a little water. This will not spoil the taste of the product, but make it a little more liquid. The main thing is to add water while the sauce is in a preheated frying pan and stir it constantly.
Ā Can you freeze alfredo sauce?
If you have cooked too much Alfredo sauce, then there is no problem freezing it. Unlike some other cheese sauces, the flour in this recipe helps to maintain consistency when cooled and reheated.
You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, freezing will allow the product to be used within 1-2 months after preparation. The freezing technology is simple:
- Pour the sauce into an airtight bag or container.
- Fix the edges of the bag or the lid well so that no air gets there.
If you want to freeze the sauce together with the pasta, then its shelf life will be reduced to 2-3 weeks.
Storage rules
Store the remains of alfredo sauce in a closed container for no more than 2 hours after cooking. You can also use sealed bags or foil. The product can also stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Freezing does not affect the taste of the product in any way, but it is best to use it hot immediately after cooking. Parmesan cheese and cream tend to thicken, so the sauce can turnĀ into a too hard mass.
Cooking tips
To prepare creamy Alfredo sauce quickly and efficiently. follow the advice from professional chefs:
- Choose soft cheeses to make the sauce thick.
- Carefully monitor the dosages of the ingredients so that the consistency does not turn out to be too liquid.
- Constantly stir the sauce in the pan during cooking so that it does not harden.
- Do not add many spices and seasonings, otherwise the sauce will turn out too spicy.
- If necessary, replace the parmesan with another cheese of similar softness.
Final thoughts
Alfredo cream sauce from Italy is perfect for pasta, spaghetti, chicken and pizza. However, you can also cook it with shrimps to boost the nutrition calories of the dish.
Pasta sauces often do not contain any beneficial substances, but you can add fresh herbs to the product to increase vitamin C content. During the preparation of the product, be careful and constantly mix it to get the desired consistency.
It is also important to choose the perfect combination of spices, herbs and seasonings. The perfect taste of the sauce can improve any dish. Don’t be afraid to experiment, add Alfredo sauce to your dishes!