Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo #recipe by @LeslieKarst

 

This recipe—which came to me via the New York Times, who in turn got it from Elaine Kaufman, owner of the NYC restaurant of the same name—is not at all “authentic.” In Rome, where the dish originated, they don’t include cream, garlic, or egg yolk (it’s made simply with pasta, butter, and cheese), but I find that these all make for delicious additions.

If you love rich, creamy pasta, you’ll come back to this recipe again and again. Serve it with a tossed green salad and crunchy French bread for an easy and delicious meal.

 

Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo

(serves 6-8)

Ingredients

salt for pasta water

2 tablespoons butter

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 large egg yolk

1½ cups heavy cream

1 pound fresh or dried fettuccine

1 cup finely grated Parmigiano cheese

salt and black pepper to taste

chopped parsley or chives, as garnish

 

Directions

Add 1-2 tablespoons salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil over high heat.

 

While waiting for the water water to boil, melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and starting to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. 

 

Mix the cream with the egg yolk until well-blended.

 

Reduce the heat under the butter and garlic to medium-low and pour in the cream/egg yolk mixture. Stir until hot but not boiling. Keep warm over low heat.

 

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Reserve about a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander. 

 

Dump the hot pasta into the cream mixture and toss to coat (still over low heat). Add the cheese and keep tossing until the cream is mostly absorbed. 

 

If sauce is too dry, toss with some of the hot pasta water. 

 

Season with salt and pepper as needed, and garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

 

Buon appetito!

🌱  🍋 🌿

 

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This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly. 

 

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