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Alton Brown Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Alton Brown Alfredo Sauce Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 16 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Alton Brown’s Alfredo sauce delivers rich, creamy elegance with classic Italian simplicity. Parmesan cheese and butter create a luxurious blend that makes pasta nights feel like a gourmet celebration you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup unsalted butter

Aromatics and Seasonings:

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Position a medium saucepan on medium heat and allow the butter to transform into a smooth, golden liquid, ensuring it does not brown or burn.
  2. Introduce finely chopped garlic into the melted butter, stirring gently to prevent sticking and releasing its aromatic essence for approximately 60 seconds.
  3. Slowly cascade the heavy cream (236 milliliters/8 fluid ounces) into the butter-garlic mixture, maintaining constant circular stirring to create a uniform blend.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, then gradually sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50 grams/1.75 ounces) into the simmering liquid, whisking consistently to promote even melting and prevent clumping.
  5. Enhance the sauce’s flavor profile by incorporating kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting quantities to personal taste preferences and continuing to stir until the sauce achieves a velvety, luxurious consistency.
  6. Transfer the piping hot Alfredo sauce immediately onto your preferred pasta, ensuring prompt serving to maintain optimal temperature and silky texture.

Notes

  • Select unsalted butter for precise salt control and smoother sauce development.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts more evenly and delivers intense authentic flavor.
  • Consistent low-heat stirring prevents cheese clumping and creates silky sauce texture.
  • Room temperature ingredients guarantee seamless sauce blending without unexpected lumps.
  • Gentle heating technique protects cream’s delicate molecular structure from breaking down.
  • Higher fat content cream produces richer, more stable sauce with luxurious mouthfeel.
  • Final seasoning taste test ensures perfectly balanced flavor before serving.
  • Refrigerated sauce remains delicious when reheated carefully with small cream splash.
  • Consume within two days for optimal taste and food safety standards.
  • Proper sauce consistency should smoothly coat wooden spoon without running quickly.
  • Freshly minced garlic provides deeper, more complex flavor profile than pre-prepared versions.
  • Wooden utensils prevent potential scratching during sauce preparation process.
  • Avoid aggressive boiling to maintain sauce’s delicate creamy integrity.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 685 kcal
  • Sugar: 0.5 g
  • Sodium: 500 mg
  • Fat: 72 g
  • Saturated Fat: 44 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 10 g
  • Cholesterol: 215 mg