Description
A simple, luxurious Alfredo sauce made with butter, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This roux-free recipe yields a silky, restaurant-quality sauce in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Fettuccine or Tagliatelle pasta
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (60ml) dry white wine (optional)
- 2 cups (200g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and chop parsley.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter slowly without browning.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for about 60 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
- If using wine, add it now and simmer for 1-2 minutes to reduce.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Gradually add the grated Parmesan, stirring constantly until melted and smooth.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Stir in chopped parsley and season with black pepper and salt to taste.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Always remove the pan from the heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Use freshly grated Parmesan, as pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting. Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Do not freeze this sauce as dairy may separate upon thawing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: alfredo sauce, parmesan cheese, pasta recipe, creamy sauce, italian dinner, easy recipes, gluten-free option