Description
Creamy garlic pasta brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen in mere minutes. Silky noodles dance with rich, aromatic garlic sauce, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti or fettuccine
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with generously salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until tender yet firm, maintaining a slight bite in the center.
- Extract and preserve a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta thoroughly.
- Select a broad skillet and melt butter over medium heat until it begins to shimmer and foam softly.
- Introduce finely chopped garlic to the melted butter, allowing it to dance and release its aromatic essence for approximately 90 seconds, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, creating a gentle simmer. Whisk consistently to encourage smooth integration and slight thickening, which should occur within 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese, seasoning with salt, cracked black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir diligently until the cheese dissolves completely, forming a velvety, uniform sauce.
- Transfer drained pasta directly into the creamy mixture, utilizing gentle folding motions to ensure comprehensive coating. If the sauce appears too dense, gradually introduce reserved pasta water to achieve desired silkiness.
- Terminate cooking process, disperse freshly chopped parsley across the surface, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version that still maintains creamy texture and reduces overall calories.
- Keep pasta slightly undercooked when boiling since it will continue cooking in the sauce, preventing mushy texture and maintaining perfect al dente consistency.
- Add protein like grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta to transform this simple pasta into a more substantial meal that satisfies bigger appetites.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor depth and smoother sauce compared to pre-packaged grated cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents that can affect sauce smoothness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 743
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 482 mg
- Fat: 56 g
- Saturated Fat: 35 g
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 147 mg