Description
Indulgent Creamy Pasta brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Silky sauce and perfectly cooked noodles create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
Finishing and Optional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk (optional for thinning)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, generously season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Submerge pasta and cook according to package guidelines until it reaches a perfect al dente texture, maintaining a slight firmness.
- Carefully drain the pasta, preserving a half cup of starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce adjustment.
- Select a broad skillet and melt butter over medium heat, allowing it to become slightly foamy.
- Introduce minced garlic to the butter, gently sautéing until its aromatic essence permeates the kitchen, approximately 30 seconds.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet, blending with Italian seasoning and creating a harmonious liquid base.
- Allow the mixture to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring consistently to ensure smooth integration.
- Season the developing sauce with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- If the sauce appears overly dense, introduce reserved pasta water or milk to achieve a silky, luxurious consistency.
- Fold the cooked pasta into the cream sauce, ensuring each strand becomes thoroughly coated with the rich mixture.
- Let the pasta rest in the sauce for 1-2 minutes, allowing it to absorb the complex flavors.
- For an optional burst of heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes across the dish.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley to add a vibrant, herbaceous note.
- Serve immediately, accompanied by an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese for those desiring extra richness.
Notes
- Ensure pasta reaches perfect al dente texture by testing a minute before recommended cooking time, preventing mushy results.
- Create a lighter version by substituting heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt for reduced calories.
- Add protein variety by mixing in grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta for a more substantial meal.
- Control sauce thickness strategically by gradually adding reserved pasta water, creating silky smooth consistency without overwhelming creaminess.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 748
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 436 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 123 mg