Description
A rich, velvety Alfredo sauce made with roasted garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese without using flour. This easy weeknight dinner delivers restaurant-quality texture and flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of garlic (whole bulb)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: Tiny pinch of nutmeg
- Olive oil (for drizzling garlic)
- Pasta of choice (e.g., spaghetti, fettuccine)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice off the top quarter inch of the garlic head to expose cloves.
- Place garlic in a small baking dish, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and wrap loosely in foil.
- Roast for 30 minutes until soft and golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- Squeeze roasted cloves out of the peel and mash into a smooth paste.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
- Add heavy cream and garlic paste, whisking to combine.
- Bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles) and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Turn off the heat and let the pan sit for 30 seconds to cool slightly.
- Gradually whisk in grated Parmesan cheese, a handful at a time, until fully melted and smooth.
- Season with black pepper and salt if needed. If too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
- Toss cooked pasta directly into the sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not use pre-grated cheese as it contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Always grate your own Parmesan. Turn off the heat before adding cheese to prevent clumping. Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed. This sauce does not freeze well due to dairy separation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate with pasta
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
Keywords: Alfredo sauce, roasted garlic, no flour, creamy pasta, Italian dinner, easy weeknight meal, gluten-free pasta sauce