According to legend, Alfredo sauce, a white sauce of cream and Parmesan cheese, was invented by the Italian-American immigrant Alfredo di Lelio just prior to his departure for America. In 1914, di Lelio, searching for preparations to please the palate of his pregnant wife, created a Parmesan and butter sauce, to be served over pasta. After his arrival with his family in New York, his newly-established restaurant served fettucine Alfredo, popularizing the dish on the other side of the Atlantic. In Europe, Alfredo sauce is still made with butter and Parmesan; however, in the United States a heavier, cream-based preparation is preferred. The addition of chicken rounds out this classic Italian-American meal.
Recipe Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup and 2 Tsbp butter
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1½ tsp salt, divided
- 1½ tsp fresh ground pepper, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
- 1½ Tbsp flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping if desired
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley, for garnish
Directions
- In a medium pan, boil salted water and cook the pasta according to package directions, likely 8–10 minutes, until al dente. Drain.
- In a cast-iron grill pan, heat olive oil over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 2 tablespoons of butter, immediately followed by the chicken breasts. Season with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
- When the chicken breasts become golden on the bottom, flip and continue cooking, covering the pan and reducing heat to medium, for an additional 5–7 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center. Remove to a plate to cool, and then slice into strips.
- In a large, deep skillet, melt the remaining ½ cup butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until it becomes aromatic.
- Reducing the heat to medium-low, season with the remaining salt and pepper and whisk in the flour.
- When no chunks remain, slowly whisk in the cream and continue to cook until the sauce is slightly thickened and steaming. Then whisk in ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, stirring until the texture is smooth.
- To serve, plate the pasta, top with sliced chicken pieces, and drizzle the sauce generously over all. Garnish with parsley and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese as desired.
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