Alfredo Sauce

By AnnieMro

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup whipping cream
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling over the final dish, if desired.

Details

Adapted from bhg.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a 3-quart saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Make sure the butter does not brown -- one of the hallmarks of this sauce is its creamy white color.
Carefully pour the cream into the saucepan with the melted butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bring the butter-cream mixture to boiling; reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the sauce gently until it begins to thicken, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. This will take 3 to 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat stir in the Parmesan cheese.
Tip: Be sure the pan is off the heat, as high heat can cause cheese to clump or become stringy rather than melt smoothly.

Continue stirring until the cheese is incorporated into the sauce. Your sauce is now ready to toss with pasta or use as desired.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Tomatoes: After Step 2 above, stir 1-1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken and 1/4 cup drained oil-packed snipped dried tomatoes into the thickened sauce. Heat through before adding the Parmesan cheese.

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo: After Step 2 above, stir 12 ounces cooked medium shrimp and 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil into the thickened sauce. Heat through before adding the Parmesan cheese.

Alfredo-Sauced Pizza: Use Alfredo sauce as a pizza sauce instead of tomato sauce, and top with your favorite ingredients.

Alfredo-Topped Baked Potatoes: Combine Alfredo sauce with cooked vegetables such as peas, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers. Heat through and spoon the sauce over hot baked potatoes.

Alfredo-Sauced Vegetables: Use as a sauce for cooked broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or a combination of vegetables.

Alfredo Meatballs: Combine with cooked meatballs for a luscious appetizer.