FETTUCCINE ALFREDO (feeds 3-4)

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo is a rich and creamy pasta dish made from fettuccine tossed with Parmesan cheese, cream and butter. This is considered one of the oldest and simplest ways of making pasta. Here's something interesting I read : This particular dish was named by Alfredo Di Lelio I, a restaurateur who opened and operated restaurants in Rome, Italy, throughout the early to mid 20th century. While the term "Fettuccine Alfredo" is especially popular in the United States, in Italy the dish is largely unknown under that name. The American version of Fettuccine Alfredo is usually richer and very different from the original recipe created by Alfredo Di Lelio. 

The one I am making is the lighter version of this dish, that way you can eat at your heart's content without feeling any guilt :) The recipe actually calls for heavy cream but I am using half & half (half milk-half cream). Now this particular dish is mild in flavor so I am serving it with spicy herb garlic bread to balance out the flavors. For those who are new to this cuisine, fettuccine is a kind of flat long pasta strips - wider than linguine (a kind of pasta). This recipe is very quick to make if you have all the ingredients ready.

Rich and creamy pasta with Parmesan shavings & dried parsley !

Ingredients :-

1 lb. fettuccine pasta

2 1/4 cups half & half 

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

a pinch of nutmeg 

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 

salt to taste 

half a lemon's zest

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 stick room temp. unsalted butter

dry parsley for garnish (optional)

Parmesan cheese shavings for garnish 

Process :-

1.  Fill a big pot with water and let it boil. Meanwhile see the cooking instructions for pasta - I normally cook fettuccine for about 12-13 mins. till they are al dente (firm when you bite into it). You don't want to overcook them else they will fall apart. Once the water starts bubbling add salt so as to season the pasta and cook them till they are al dente. Drain and give them a cold shower so they stop cooking. Keep aside.

2.  In a heavy bottom pan on medium heat add 2 cups of half & half and butter. Stir for a couple of minutes till the butter starts to melt. Add Parmesan cheese, stir - once it starts melting turn off heat (you don't want the sauce to sit on the stove top for a long time)

3.  Now add salt, black pepper and nutmeg, mix properly. Next add lemon juice and lemon zest (the fragrance is wonderful :)), mix again. Alfredo sauce is ready !

Fettuccine evenly coated with thick Alfredo sauce !

4.  Lastly, add cooked pasta mix gently so as to coat all the pasta with the thick creamy sauce !

5.  Garnish it with Parmesan shavings, sprinkle dried parsley so it looks pretty :) Serve hot with warm, spicy herb garlic bread. Buon Appetito !!!

Fettuccine Alfredo with Spicy Herb Garlic Bread !