pasta essentials: creamy garlic/parma sauce

Name: Pasta Essentials: Creamy Garlic/Parma Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ## PLAN/PURCHASE; 4 tablespoon(s) sweet butter, unsalted; 4 clove(s) garlic, finely minced, or grated; 2 tablespoon(s) flour, all-purpose variety; 1 cup(s) whole milk; 1/2 cup(s) heavy cream; 3/4 cup(s) parmesan cheese, grated; 2 ounce(s) cream cheese, room temperature; 2 teaspoon(s) lemon juice, freshly squeezed, or more to taste; salt, kosher variety, to taste; white pepper, freshly ground, to taste; additional liquid (water, milk, chicken stock) as needed, more on this later; ## OPTIONAL ITEMS; 1 tablespoon(s) smooth brown mustard, i prefer grey poupon; 5 - 6 small capers, smashed, and finely chopped; 14 ounce(s) diced tomatoes (1 can), fully drained, to make a creamy tomato sauce; 1 - 2 pinch(es) cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes, for a bit of heat

40 Pinches 18 Photos

Andy Anderson !

Wichita, KS

Updated on Jan 3, 2022

This is another recipe that was created for my New Year’s party. My main photo shows the sauce over shrimp and pasta. In truth, it would work brilliantly with any seafood… Yummy stuff. The sauce can be made the same day; or it can be made 2 – 3 days before and refrigerated until needed. I usually make it the day before because it saves time while preparing the other dishes. And need I say that it is bursting with the fresh flavors of garlic, lemon, and parmesan. Use it with pasta, shrimp, fish; even drizzle over eggs. Up to you. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

Rate

prep time 10 Min

cook time 20 Min

method Stove Top

yield Several

Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
4 tablespoons sweet butter, unsalted
4 cloves garlic, finely minced, or grated
2 tablespoons flour, all-purpose variety
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed, or more to taste
salt, kosher variety, to taste
white pepper, freshly ground, to taste
additional liquid (water, milk, chicken stock) as needed, more on this later
OPTIONAL ITEMS
1 tablespoon smooth brown mustard, i prefer grey poupon
5 - 6 small capers, smashed, and finely chopped
14 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can), fully drained, to make a creamy tomato sauce
1 - 2 pinches cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes, for a bit of heat

How To Make pasta essentials: creamy garlic/parma sauce

Step 1

PREP/PREPARE

Step 2

You will need a large saucepan, or heavy-bottomed pot to make this recipe. I have a small Dutch oven that is perfect for making sauces like this.
Step 3

Additional Liquid I have found that in most cases, you will probably want to thin the sauce down a bit, and the way to accomplish that is with a bit more liquid. You could use water, more milk, or chicken stock. In my opinion, chicken stock it the best, it gives the sauce a bit more depth and flavor.
Step 4

Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
Step 5

Add the butter to a pot over medium heat and allow to completely melt.
Step 6

While the butter is melting, finely grate the garlic.
Step 7

Grate the parmesan.
Step 8

Add the garlic to the pot.
Step 9

Stir until fragrant, about 60 – 90 seconds.
Step 10

Add the flour to the pot and stir to make a roux.
Step 11

Add the milk and cream, then bring up to a lite simmer, and allow to slightly thicken, about 3 – 5 minutes. Then add the cheeses to the pot.
Step 12

Set the heat to low and slowly stir.
Step 13

Keep stirring until the cheeses are completely melted into the sauce, about 5 – 6 minutes. Add the lemon juice plus salt and pepper, to taste.
Step 14

At this point you can add any of the optional items.
Step 15

Do a final tasting for proper seasoning, and either store in the fridge until needed, or serve while nice and warm.
Step 16

PLATE/PRESENT
Step 17

Serve with pasta, seafood, eggs, whatever suits your fancy. Enjoy.
Step 18

Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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