What do you get if you mix butter with Parmesan cheese, cream, cheese, garlic, herbs, and spices? Well, if they’re mixed the right way, you’ll have one of the most delicious sauces in Italian cuisine. We’re talking about the much-loved Alfredo sauce.
Alfredo sauce is a creamy sauce similar to carbonara but with its own distinct flavours and qualities. The taste and texture of Alfredo is richer and creamier than that of Carbonara. It’s an indulgent, savoury sauce with cheesy flavours and a salty tang. By adding it to a pasta dish, you can enjoy the highly satisfying richness it brings.
History of Alfredo Sauce
It’s believed that Alfredo sauce was invented by an Italian by the name of Alfredo Di Lelio. In 1892, he started working at his mother’s restaurant in Rome. In 1907 or 1908, Alfredo’s wife gave birth to their child and subsequently lost her appetite. In his attempt to help her enjoy food again, Alfredo Di Lelio invented the rich and creamy sauce that went on to become known as ‘Alfredo sauce’. Little did he know how popular and long-lasting it would become.
Types of Alfredo Sauce
There are various types of Alfredo sauce. Normally, they follow the same set of main ingredients but use their own choice of herbs, cheese, and cream quantities. Here at Olivieri, we offer two varieties of Alfredo sauce.
The first is Olivieri® Classic Alfredo Sauce. This follows the original ingredients for that authentic Italian taste. Our version of this delicious sauce also uses 100% Canadian cream.
The other version we offer is Olivieri® Herb Alfredo which has an extra herbaceous kick from the basil and other tasty ingredients.
For most recipes, our Alfredo sauces are interchangeable, allowing you to choose whichever variety you prefer.
Traditional Italian Dishes with Alfredo
When Alfredo Di Lelio first invented his sauce, he did so as part of the recipe for fettuccine Alfredo. Linguine is a similar type of pasta to fettuccine, which is perhaps why this Linguine Italiano dish is complemented so beautifully by Alfredo sauce.
For those who love filled pasta and the flavours of sausage meat, prepare this Italian Sausage Tortelloni Alfredo with Mushrooms. Not only is it quick and easy to make, but it’s also a hearty meal with an elegant appearance, enriched by Alfredo creaminess.
Cannelloni is a surprisingly overlooked pasta type, given how satisfying it can be for lunch or dinner. You can enjoy these cylinders of deliciousness in a Chicken and Prosciutto Cannelloni with Mushroom Alfredo Sauce meal on any day of the week.
Alfredo and Gnocchi Magic
It’s not only in typical pasta dishes that Alfredo sauce can work its magic. When added to a gnocchi recipe, what you get is an irresistible combo of warm and chewy textures with rich and creamy flavours. Experience it for yourself by preparing this Alfredo Gnocchi with Crumbled Blue Cheese.
In this Skillet Gnocchi Carbonara dish, you can mix gnocchi with the typical ingredients of a carbonara recipe, such as sliced bacon and grated Parmesan cheese, but with our Alfredo sauce for extra taste instead of regular carbonara sauce.
Get Creative with Alfredo Sauce
When it comes to using Alfredo sauce, the safe route is to follow recommended recipes, but it’s worth taking into account that there are plenty of opportunities for creative experimentation. Take, for example, this Skillet Gnocchi With Fresh Goat Cheese and Green Peas. Alfredo sauce may not be part of the original recipe, but it will certainly enhance the flavours if you include it in the mix.
With Alfredo sauce, you’ll also have a delightful option at hand when you’re wondering what sauces to pair with gnocchi.
Alfredo as a Dipping Sauce
For finger foods and appetizers, Alfredo sauce works beautifully as a dipping sauce. Make these simple yet satisfying Gnocchi PIzza Bites then dip them into a ramekin of one of our Alfredo sauces for a fun and family-friendly appetizer that the kids will love.
Or how about using Alfredo sauce instead of ketchup the next time you feast on chicken nuggets with fries? What’s more, you can take out the fries and replace them with Italian-inspired stick-shaped gnocchi in this Chicken Nuggets with Gnocchi Stix recipe.
The great thing about Gnocchi Stix recipes is that they’re simple, fun, and family-friendly. For more recipe inspiration, you know where to find us!