Alfredo Sauce Recipe

The creamy and buttery Alfredo sauce is rich and flavorful. It is a perfect addition to pasta. You can also enjoy roasted vegetables, chicken, and seafood with it. People of all ages like cheesy Alfredo sauce.

Alfredo sauce originated in Italy in the early 20^th century and has become popular worldwide over time. It can transform your simple dish into a luxury dish in appearance and taste. So, whether you are a home cook or an experienced chef in a 5-star hotel, learning how to prepare the Alfredo sauce recipe will elevate your culinary experiences.

This article will present the step-by-step method of the classic Alfredo recipe and some common mistakes that you should avoid while preparing this rich sauce. Besides, we will provide magical tips to reduce the calories of this Italian cream sauce. Let’s start from the ingredient list.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ingredients

Alfredo sauce’s ingredients are familiar to all. It is important to make the perfect sauce using a precise amount of ingredients. Therefore, we will present the ingredient details in this section.

1. Butter (unsalted) – 1 cup

Butter provides a rich texture and delicious taste. Unsalted butter is preferable because salted butter makes the sauce salty. 1 cup of unsalted butter is required to make this classic Alfredo sauce. 

2. Heavy Cream – 1 ½ cups

Heavy cream is the secret ingredient of this creamy Italian sauce. It makes the sauce smooth and silky in texture. You can use 1 ½ cups of heavy cream for this recipe. 

3. Minced Garlic – 2 cloves

Garlic adds excellent flavor to the sauce. It is necessary to use minced garlic to prepare the perfect traditional Alfredo recipe. So, wash two garlic cloves properly, then mince them using a knife.

4. Grated Parmesan Cheese – 1 ½ cups

Cheese is a vital ingredient of this sauce recipe. You need 1 ½ cups of freshly grated parmesan cheese to prepare the perfect cheesy pasta sauce.

5. Salt – ½ teaspoon

Salt is a mandatory ingredient for all food items. According to our experts, ½ teaspoon of salt is enough here. Yet, we recommend using salt to your taste.  

6. Ground Black Pepper – ¼ teaspoon

Ground black pepper adds spicy and sharp flavors to this rich Alfredo sauce. Using ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper is recommended. 

7. Nutmeg – A pinch (optional)

Nutmeg adds warmth to the sauce. You can add a pinch of nutmeg powder to enhance the depth of the Alfredo sauce. 

8. Fresh Parsley: For garnish (optional)

You can use some fresh parsley to garnish the sauce. It will improve the appearance of the sauce.

How to Make Alfredo Sauce: 8 Simple Steps

Our experts and professionals prepare an easy Alfredo sauce recipe with 8 simple steps for you. We recommend following these steps to prepare the perfect creamy and rich Alfredo sauce.

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

You need to prepare all the required ingredients at the beginning of the preparation process.

• Mince the garlic finely.
• Grate the parmesan cheese.
• Measure all the required ingredients using specific measuring equipment. 

Step 2: Melt the Butter & Sauté the Garlic 

The first task of this white sauce-making process is to melt the butter.

• Take a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Put 2 sticks or 1 cup of unsalted butter in the saucepan.
• Provide heat for 2 – 3 minutes to melt the butter.
• Stir frequently to avoid browning and sticking on the pan.
• After the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes.
• If you get the fragrance of the buttery garlic, the sautéing is done.

Step 3: Add Heavy Cream

After the butter has melted properly and the fragrance of sautéed garlic is revealed, it’s time to add the heavy cream.

• Pour the heavy cream slowly into the saucepan filled with melted butter.
• Simmer the mixture at low heat to thicken slightly.
• Stir occasionally throughout this step.

Note: Never boil the mixture of butter and heavy cream. You just need to simmer the mixture. 

Step 4: Add Grated Parmesan Cheese

The mixture of butter and heavy cream becomes slightly thick. Now, add grated parmesan cheese gradually.

• Add the grated parmesan cheese and stir constantly.
• The cheese will melt with the butter and cream over low temperature. It will create a smooth and creamy texture.
• Stir continuously until the cheese combines properly with the mixture. 

Step 5: Add Seasoning Ingredients

The sauce is almost ready. It’s time to season the sauce to increase its palatability.

• Add salt, ground black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg powder.
• Then, give a nice mix.
• Now, taste the sauce. If required, adjust the seasoning ingredients. 

Step 6: Simmer the Sauce for Thickening

After seasoning the sauce, you need to simmer the sauce.

• Simmer for about 3 – 5 minutes and stir continuously to avoid sticking on the saucepan.
• If you don’t get the desired consistency after 5 minutes, you can simmer for 2 – 3 minutes more.
• On the other hand, if the sauce becomes very thick, you can add some cream to the sauce. 

Step 7: Serve the Sauce

When you get the acceptable consistency and texture, remove the saucepan from the heat.

• Take a bowl of boiled fettuccine pasta.
• Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss gently to prepare the fettuccine pasta.

Note: If you prefer light sauce, you can use a little pasta water to adjust the thickness. 

Step 8: Garnish the Sauce 

Now, you can garnish the plate of pasta using some freshly chopped parsley. Then, enjoy your pasta with Alfredo sauce.

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Alfredo Sauce

There are 4 common mistakes that you have to avoid while making Alfredo sauce to get the perfect traditional taste of the sauce.

• Using Pre-Grated Parmesan Cheese

You can think of using pre-grated parmesan cheese to reduce the preparation time of the sauce. But you should know that pre-grated parmesan contains anti-caking agents, which can make the texture lumpy. So, you have to use freshly grated parmesan cheese to prepare the white sauce for pasta. 

• Boiling the Mixture of Butter and Heavy Cream

We already mentioned not to boil the mixture of butter and heavy cream. You need to simmer the mixture over low temperature to prepare butter and cream pasta sauce. If you bring a rapid boil to the mixture, the cheese will curdle, and the cream will be separated from the mixture.

• Not Stirring Enough

Not stirring enough is the most common mistake. If you don’t stir the mixture consistently, the cream and butter may stick on the saucepan, and the cheese will be clumpy. Therefore, it is very important to stir occasionally while preparing the butter & cream mixture, and continuously while adding the cheese.  

• Overheating the Cream

Overheating the cream also results in curdling of the cream and makes a runny texture. Hence, maintaining a proper temperature throughout the process is mandatory. Keep the heat low to medium always.

3 Magical Tips to Reduce the Calories of the Alfredo Sauce

The classic Alfredo sauce is a high-caloric sauce. High-caloric foods are harmful to our health. We will tell you 3 special tips to reduce the calories of Alfredo sauce.

• Using Milk & Non-Fat Yogurt Instead of Heavy Cream

Using heavy cream makes the calories double. You can use milk and non-fat yogurt to bring the creamy texture instead of using high-fat heavy cream. 

• Using Less Butter & Less Cheese

Using less butter and less cheese can be an effective option to reduce the calories of the Alfredo sauce. It may not be rich in texture, but it will be healthy for you. 

• Try Plant-Based Cream

Using plant-based cream will be very helpful in making a healthier version of the Alfredo sauce. You can use coconut cream. Moreover, you can prepare cream by grounding cashews with almond milk. It will also provide a creamy texture to the sauce.

FAQs

Can I Make Alfredo Sauce Without Cream?

Yes, you can make Alfredo sauce without cream. You can use a mixture of milk and yogurt to create a creamy texture instead of using heavy cream. Additionally, you can use coconut cream or cream produced with cashews and almond milk. 

What Pasta Pairs Best With Alfredo Sauce?

The fettuccine pasta pairs best with the Alfredo sauce because of their wide and flat shape. However, you can use pasta according to your choice to pair with Alfredo sauce. 

How Do I Store Leftover Alfredo Sauce? 

You can pour the leftover Alfredo sauce into a container and close the lid tightly. Then, refrigerate the sauce. You can alternatively use heavy-duty freezer bags to freeze the Alfredo sauce.

Conclusion

Preparing Alfredo sauce is not a difficult task. But preparing perfect creamy and smooth Alfredo sauce is tough. It will require proper guidelines. Therefore, you can follow our ingredients and steps. Our experts provide you with special tips to make the perfect Alfredo sauce recipe.

We also mentioned some mistakes that you should avoid. By avoiding these mistakes, you can make the perfect sauce on your first attempt. You can also use the tips on reducing calories to prepare a healthy Alfredo sauce.