Butter, cream, cheese, are all part of this beloved Classic Alfredo Sauce recipe. The interpretations can vary widely, somewhere between bland and flat to overly salty and processed tasting due to fillers in place of real cream. I avoid ordering Alfredo in restaurants for that reason, never knowing which side of the spectrum to expect. I like this recipe for its accents of garlic, lemon, and mix of Parmesan and Romano cheeses. Remarkably easy to prepare at home, this simple sauce creates the perfect canvas for all sorts of enhancements like Cedar Plank Grilled Chicken, Blackened Salmon, sautéed shrimp, spiralized (as shown) or roasted vegetables.
Gluten-Free Option: Use spiralized vegetables or any favorite gluten-free pasta as a substitute for wheat pasta, try Ancient Harvest Quinoa or Jovial brand if you are uncertain which to use.
Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese , shredded
- 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano , shredded
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1 pound pasta , gluten-free pasta
- Sea salt , to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a pot of rapidly boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender; add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add wine and lemon juice and cook until reduced by half. Add heavy cream and bring to a simmer or low-boil. Cook until sauce has reduced and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Season with pepper, to taste. Remove from the heat. (It is best to salt after adding the cheese to avoid over salting.)
- Return the pasta to the pot it was cooked in, set over medium-high heat along with 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking liquid (reserve the other 1/4 cup to thin sauce, if needed). Add the butter-cream mixture, half of the Parmesan, all the Romano, and toss to combine thoroughly. (Thin with pasta water if desired.) Salt to taste.
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Teri says
Oh my, this alfredo is as good as any I’ve had in a restaurant!
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
I love Alfredo Sauce, and your version sounds just wonderful. I like the addition of the lemon juice. Thank you for sharing this post with the Hearth and Soul Blog Hop.
Kirstin says
YUM!! I love alfredo. This looks yummy and I love your recipe. I make a 4 cheese fettucini sauce that is super good..
Judy says
More cheese, I’m in! 😀
Judy says
Raquel, I applaud your efforts to understand what you are eating and monitor/control ingredients, we are diligent about this same thing. Alfredo has received a bad rap because of its fat content, though it is all good fats. Yes, good fats. Obviously, portion control is key with any meal and a generous serving of vegetables with this recipe is important. With proper meal rotation (variety), quality ingredients (no low-fat or artificial stuff), and portion control, there is no reason to avoid a real cream sauce now and again. Good for you for paying attention to nutrition.
rsmacaalay says
I love alfredo sauce and in fact any creamy pasta sauce would do. Will be making one soon but the seafood version: )
Judy says
My favorite is with blackened salmon.
thepintsizechef says
This look so delicious! 🙂