master recipe: parmesan cream sauce

Wichita, KS
Updated on Jul 29, 2016

Every chef worth his or her salt needs a decent method for creating a creamy Parmesan sauce. Remember: The trick to making a worthy Parmesan sauce (besides taste) is that it is thin enough to flow when drizzling over chicken or fish, yet thick enough to cling to things, like pasta. A good Parmesan sauce forms a base for many dishes; including but not restricted to, chicken, fish, pasta, and shrimp. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

prep time 10 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top
yield 4 - 6

Ingredients

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • 2 tablespoons sweet butter, unsalted, i recommend clarified butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour, all purpose variety
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock, not broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • - white pepper, freshly ground, to taste
  • - salt, kosher variety, freshly ground, to taste
  • OPTIONAL ITEMS (MORE ON VARIATIONS LATER)
  • - skinned/seeded/chopped fresh tomatoes
  • - cream cheese
  • - baked garlic
  • - freshly chopped herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, etc.)
  • - a pinch of nutmeg during the holidays

How To Make master recipe: parmesan cream sauce

  • Step 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • Step 2
    Gather your ingredients.
  • Step 3
    Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Step 4
    If you are not using clarified butter, wait until the foaming subsides.
  • Step 5
    Add the flour.
  • Step 6
    Whisk until completely incorporated, about 1 quick minute.
  • Step 7
    Chef’s Note: Adding fat and flour together creates a roux. There are different stages of a roux; the longer your cook it, the browner it gets, and the nuttier it tastes. We want a light roux… no browning. So, 1 minute on the heat is about all you want.
  • Step 8
    Slowly whisk in the chicken stock.
  • Step 9
    Chef’s Tip: Do not use hot chicken stock, or you will get lumps in your sauce.
  • Step 10
    Continue to whisk until completely smooth.
  • Step 11
    Add the cream.
  • Step 12
    Stir to incorporate, about 1 minute.
  • Step 13
    Chef’s Note: At this point, season with salt and pepper.
  • Step 14
    Chef’s Note: We are using white pepper, because we don’t want to see little black flakes in the sauce. In addition, white pepper is milder than black pepper, so adjust your seasoning accordingly.
  • Step 15
    Continue to cook and stir for an additional 2 minutes.
  • Step 16
    Add the Parmesan
  • Step 17
    Stir until incorporated, about 1 minute.
  • Step 18
    Chef’s Note: If the sauce is too thick, add more cream or chicken stock, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
  • Step 19
    Chef’s Tip: If you are making this sauce ahead of time, put a piece of wax paper or plastic wrap over the sauce while it cools to prevent a skin from forming.
  • Step 20
    VARIATIONS ON A THEME
  • Step 21
    FOR FISH AND CHICKEN: Add about 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme and oregano and 1 or 2 baked/mined cloves of garlic.
  • Step 22
    A VEGGIE DIP: Use the same variations for fish and chicken, but melt about 2 ounces of cream cheese into the sauce.
  • Step 23
    PASTA: Use the master recipe without variations over most pasta.
  • Step 24
    PASTA VARIATION: Skin, seed, and chop one large plum tomato add a tablespoon of chopped basil, and serve over pasta.
  • Step 25
    Chef’s Note: When I use garlic in a sauce, I like to bake the garlic first. Place the garlic cloves on a piece of parchment paper and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Pull the ends of the parchment paper together and twist together, like a beggar’s pouch. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow it to cool. Add a few pinches of salt, and then mash into a paste with the flat side of your kitchen knife.
  • Step 26
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
  • Step 27
    If you enjoyed this recipe, and would like to be notified when I post more yummy food, just click here to follow me: https://www.justapinch.com/my/favorites/add/id/747894

Discover More

Culture: Italian
Category: Other Sauces
Ingredient: Dairy
Method: Stove Top

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