Traditional Alfredo Sauce: Two Recipes & Alternatives

Published ByLatif Jamani On Updated on

Traditional alfredo sauce is made using a method similar to white sauce, but alfredo sauce is different from other white sauces because this sauce is made with heavy cream instead of milk and contains a few other extra ingredients.

Traditional Alfredo Sauce

Here’s a quick, simple recipe for traditional alfredo sauce.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 ½ cups shredded fresh parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

    1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
    2. Add cream and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
    3. Introduce garlic and parmesan cheese, continuously whisking as the mixture heats.
    4. Mix in parsley, keeping some aside for garnish.
    5. Serve over your preferred pasta, garnished with a sprinkle of parsley and additional parmesan cheese

Creamy Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened and cut into chunks
  • 1 ½ cups shredded fresh parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Nutmeg or Red Pepper flakes (pinch)

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and sauté until it’s fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3. Add the cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the chunks of cream cheese until smooth and fully incorporated.
  5. Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese and continue to whisk to avoid any lumps.
  6. Season with salt, black pepper, and, if desired, a pinch of nutmeg or red pepper flakes.
  7. Once the sauce is creamy and smooth, remove it from the heat. Remember, the sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.
  8. Serve over your favorite pasta, garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley if desired.

More Pasta Creations to Try:

  • Macaroni Cheese and Cauliflower Bake: This easy-to-make recipe is a unique version of classic mac ‘n cheese. Using a mix of three different cheeses, the sauce gets its tang from the mature cheddar and its smooth, creamy texture from the Lancashire and Cheshire cheeses. Use regular macaroni and fresh cauliflower for a filling meal.
  • Gordon’s Carbonara in Under 10 Minutes: Gordon’s carbonara is quick and easy to make, but you need to assemble all the ingredients before you start: frozen peas, streaky bacon, egg yolks, crème fraiche, mushrooms, chili, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper, and parsley. Serve hot over spaghetti
  • Courgetti Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs: This recipe is fairly complicated and involves special equipment and a few steps. You need a spiralizer or a mandolin to make spaghetti from the courgettes. The dish contains courgettes, olive oil, and parmesan cheese for the courgette spaghetti; turkey mince, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, an egg, and salt and pepper for the meatballs; and olive oil, onions, garlic, tomato pureé, canned chopped tomatoes, dried oregano, and balsamic vinegar for the tomato sauce.

Making Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce is a rich pasta sauce made by cooking butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese in a saucepan on the stove. Traditionally served with pasta, alfredo sauce can be adapted by adding herbs and spices for variety.

Gordon Ramsay’s white sauce is a low-fat variation of alfredo sauce, made with evaporated milk instead of heavy cream and with flour to thicken the sauce. Gordon Ramsay’s white sauce also contains garlic and is served with parsley for extra flavor.

Tips & Tweaks for Perfect Alfredo Sauce:

  • Avoid Separation: Ensure that the sauce doesn’t boil vigorously. A gentle simmer on low heat will prevent scorching and separation.
  • Flavor Boosters: Elevate your Alfredo with Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, or onion powder.
  • Adjusting Consistency: If your sauce becomes too thick, add hot water from your boiling past to get it to how you would like it to be.
  • Creaminess: For something extra-creamy, add CHEESE and mix gently. The melting cheese will make the sauce even more delicious and rich

Try drizzling over fried chicken or stir in crispy bacon bits for even more taste.

Non-Dairy Alternatives for Ingredients in Alfredo Sauce:

  1. Best Milk and Heavy Cream Alternatives for an Alfredo Sauce: Cashew Milk 
  2. Best Cheese Alternatives: Nutritional Yeast
  3. Best Butter Alternatives: Vegan Butter/Margarine

 

 

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Latif Jamani

Latif Jamani, a Calgary-based writer, combines his love for travel and culinary exploration by sharing tales from his journeys across 35 countries. His passion for cooking was fueled by culinary icons like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey, leading him to swap university lectures for the dynamic world of the "Food Network" and its diverse techniques and styles. With an MBA from INSEAD, Latif merges his entrepreneurial insight with a flair for storytelling, often relishing moments of cooking and dining with family and friends, where each dish is a narrative and every flavor an adventure.

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