White Bean Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Making Thyme for Health (2024)

FAQs

What to add to Alfredo sauce to make it better? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

Add Cheese

The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

Cornstarch

This works as a great thickening agent. The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

All-purpose flour: To help form a roux and thicken the sauce. If you are making gluten-free Alfredo sauce, however, you are welcome to omit the flour and have a slightly thinner sauce. Or you can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it (see details below).

Seasonings/Spices

Some of my personal favorites include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, onion powder or seasoned salt. Start with small amounts (1/2 teaspoon at a time) and add as needed, in order to avoid over-spicing.

Add heavy whipping cream, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long.

After 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta noodles are finished cooking, reserve 2 cups of the pasta water to include in your sauce. The starchy water is essential to creating a thick, creamy sauce consistency.

Alfredo sauce has only 2 ingredients: butter and Parmigiano Reggiano. if you need to thicken the sauce because maybe you added some pasta water or too much butter, just add some more Parmigiano Reggiano.

Mix the cornstarch with some cold water to create a smooth slurry, then whisk it into the sauce while cooking over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Add all-purpose flour. Another very common thickening agent that will give your Alfredo sauce a creamy texture.

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

What can I substitute for butter in Alfredo sauce? ›

Of course we are skipping the butter to make Alfredo sauce and using extra virgin olive oil instead. You'll still get a rich, creamy sauce in a matter of minutes and I feel like it balances out the cream with a little bit of healthy, anti-oxidant rich olive oil.

Evaporated milk can be used as a substitute in recipes in which heavy cream is used as a liquid ingredient, such as in baked goods, but it doesn't whip well. Substitute the heavy cream in your recipes with an equal amount of evaporated milk.

The reason behind this is simple; cream sauces tend to lack flavor and feel a bit heavy due to the fat content. Nutmeg is a simple way to warm up the sauce with a subtle, spice flavor that won't overpower it. Like with béchamel, you only need a pinch of nutmeg in your alfredo to improve its flavor.

This homemade alfredo sauce recipe comes together very easily. In the video below, I use bechamel as a base which you can flavor with 1/2 onion, 1 bay leaf, and a clove. Since most of us don't keep that as a kitchen staple, I've incorporated it into the recipe below to simplify things.

Alfredo sauce is made with only four ingredients: cream, butter, egg yolks and Parmesan cheese. If you deem it too thick, increase the ratio of cream.

The goal of reheating fettuccine alfredo is to make it taste as close to fresh as possible. Pantry & Larder says you can achieve this by adding a small amount of water, cream, or milk to the dish to increase moisture and prevent the noodles from drying out.

While controlling the heat is what helps the fat (oil) not separate from the sauce in the first place, adding cream to your leftovers is what helps to revive the dish. This leaves the pasta nice and creamy again and makes sure that it's not dried out.

Heat the sauce over medium heat.

Place the pan on a burner, turn the burner to medium, and let the sauce begin to heat. Stir it occasionally using a spatula or spoon to keep it from scorching on the bottom. It should take about five minutes to heat.