Reduced Fat Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my Alfredo sauce less thick? ›

The key is to add a little bit of liquid. The most common thinner for any creamy sauce is milk, however, you can also use other liquids like water, broth, or cream. Note that the liquid has to contain moisture so it can actually work, which is why melted butter won't do.

Best: Classico Light Creamy Alfredo Spaghetti Pasta Sauce

This lightened-up Alfredo from Classico has about half the fat and calories of the traditional version, and it's not sky-high in sodium. Still, this sauce doesn't skip on rich flavor, which is always a win in our book.

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

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.

There are solutions for oily leftover Alfredo

One of the simplest ways to avoid greasy, separated Alfredo sauce is to heat it slowly over the stove instead in the microwave. Microwaves heat up food much faster than a stove does, and the faster you reheat your leftover sauce, the more likely it is to separate.

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.

Low-fat milk and butter

If you're health-conscious but still want creamy pasta, use low-fat milk and a touch of butter. The combination provides a milder creaminess while keeping the calorie count lower. These alternatives are not only easy to use but also add a unique twist to your pasta dishes.

This recipe for homemade alfredo sauce uses $4.33 worth of ingredients and makes 9.5 ounces, which is also roughly 46 cents per ounce. This means homemade alfredo sauce costs about the same as high quality jarred sauces, but tastes even better.

Fresh herbs

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.

Parmesan is the signature flavor in Alfredo sauce but you can also combine it with other cheeses for additional flavor. You can also make a a completely different sauce/different flavor profile by swapping the Parmesan for another melting cheese such as mozzarella, Asiago, Gouda, smoked cheddar, Monterrey, etc.

How do you turn half-and-half into heavy cream? ›

To substitute for 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream, combine 7/8 cup (232 grams) of half-and-half with 1/8 cup (29 grams) of melted butter.

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream. This mixture is not suitable for whipping. Best for: cooking and baking.

And in Italian cuisine, olive oil is also an essential seasoning for many “poor man's dishes,” such as bruschetta, spaghetti aglio e olio, lemon pasta, panzanella, and it can be used at room temperature for many salad dressings.

This happens when there's too much fat or liquid in the mixture. This can happen when there are not enough emulsifiers (which help keep your ingredients together). Sauces are usually made from multiple ingredients that include both oil and water. Oils and water will naturally separate.

Melted butter adds a creamy texture and a deliciously bold flavor to alfredo sauce. Add up to 1/4 cup, stirring over medium-low heat until melted. Double up on buttery garlic by sauteing minced garlic IN butter.

For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

A traditional alfredo sauce only requires butter, parmesan cheese, and a little bit of pasta water. No need for anything fancy!