how to make alfredo sauce

To make Alfredo sauce from scratch, follow these steps based on popular, easy recipes:

Ingredients

• Butter (about 3 tablespoons or ½ cup depending on recipe)
• Heavy cream (1 to 2 cups)
• Garlic (2 to 3 cloves, minced)
• Parmesan cheese (½ to 1 cup freshly grated)
• Optional: Olive oil, white pepper, mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper

Basic Method

1. Melt Butter and Garlic: Heat butter (and a little olive oil if using) in a saucepan over medium-low heat until melted. Add minced garlic and cook gently until fragrant but not browned (about 1-5 minutes) to avoid bitterness

2. Add Cream: Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, not a boil. Let it simmer for about 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened

3. Add Cheese: Gradually stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese (and mozzarella if using) until the sauce is smooth and thickened, about 8-10 minutes total. Avoid overheating to prevent the cheese from clumping or breaking

4. Season: Add white pepper or black pepper, salt, and optional Italian seasoning to taste. White pepper keeps the sauce silky and less visually speckled

5. Serve: Toss the sauce with cooked pasta like fettuccine or use it over chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. Keep the sauce warm on low heat while serving

Tips

• For a thicker, creamier sauce, some recipes add cream cheese melted in with the butter and cream

• Avoid browning the garlic or butter to keep the sauce smooth and avoid bitterness

• Leftover sauce can be refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen for 3 months and reheated gently on the stove

This method yields a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce perfect for classic dishes like Fettuccine Alfredo or as a versatile white sauce for various meals

. Example Recipe (from Allrecipes):

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ tsp white pepper
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Melt butter and olive oil over medium-low heat.
• Add cream, garlic, and white pepper; simmer 3-5 minutes.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese; simmer until thick and smooth, 8-10 minutes.
• Add mozzarella and stir until smooth.
• Serve immediately