Description
Silky smooth fettuccine alfredo brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Rich parmesan and butter create a luxurious sauce that wraps around tender noodles, inviting you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or your favorite type)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Ingredients:
- 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
- ½ cup (75 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a capacious pot, submerging the pasta until it reaches a perfectly tender yet firm texture. Extract a modest portion of starchy liquid, then carefully drain and temporarily set the pasta aside.
- Activate a spacious skillet over gentle heat, allowing butter to melt and transform into a silky foundation. Introduce finely chopped garlic, releasing its aromatic essence for a brief moment. Stream in luxurious cream, whisking continuously until the mixture trembles with gentle bubbles.
- Reduce the thermal intensity, then cascade Parmesan into the velvety mixture. Sprinkle Italian herbs, salt, cracked pepper, and fiery red pepper flakes, stirring until the cheese dissolves into a harmonious, slightly thickened emulsion.
- Transfer the cooked pasta into the creamy landscape, gently tumbling each strand to ensure complete sauce coverage. Should the mixture appear overly dense, introduce reserved pasta water to create a more fluid consistency.
- For enhanced complexity, fold vibrant baby spinach and jewel-like cherry tomatoes into the skillet, allowing the greens to soften and release their subtle flavors.
- Conclude by adorning the dish with a delicate shower of freshly chopped parsley, presenting the pasta immediately to capture its peak warmth and textural brilliance.
Notes
- Elevate the pasta’s texture by cooking it just shy of the package instructions, ensuring a perfect al dente bite that holds up beautifully in the creamy sauce.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes; start with a pinch for mild warmth or go bold with a generous sprinkle for spice lovers.
- Transform this dish into a protein-packed meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta for extra flavor and nutritional boost.
- Make it vegetarian-friendly by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream, and using nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a dairy-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg