Alfredo sauce
This Alfredo sauce recipe is a luxurious, smooth sauce made from butter and parmesan.
Alfredo sauce is best served hot, tossed through some pasta (Fettuccine alfredo). In Italy it's better known as pasta al burro (pasta with butter). This sauce is infinitely better than the convenience food version which uses starch, rather than cheese to thicken the sauce
This recipe uses cream cheese but some recipes use mozarella instead. If serving with pasta, make sure to serve with some freshly ground black pepper – you can also add ham, king prawns/shrimp or chicken to liven it up a tad – but I find the combination of cheeses with the black pepper work well enough on their own.
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Total Time:
- Servings: 4
- Course: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 125 g cream cheese (cubed)
- 250 ml double/heavy cream
- 85 g parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium, non-stick saucepan over a medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for a further two minutes.
- Add the cream cheese, and simmer together until it heats through and it all melts together into a smooth sauce.
- The sauce will be quite thick so now add the cream – a little at a time – and cook for a few minutes until the sauce goes smooth again.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan and add the ground pepper, simmer for a few minutes longer.
- Season with salt to taste, and remove from heat when the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
FAQ
What is Alfredo sauce?
A rich, creamy pasta sauce made from butter, Parmesan cheese, and often cream in the American adaptation. The sauce coats the pasta smoothly thanks to the emulsion of fat and starch from the pasta water.
What pasta works best with Alfredo sauce?
Fettuccine is the classic pairing, but other long pasta shapes also work.
Can I make Alfredo sauce without cream?
Yes. The traditional Italian method uses just butter, Parmesan, and pasta water for creaminess.
How can I make it richer?
Add more Parmesan or a touch of extra butter for a decadent finish.
Can I serve Alfredo sauce with vegetables?
Yes. It pairs well with green vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus, or serve alongside a crisp caprese salad with burrata.
