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parmesan garlic sauce recipe

Parmesan Garlic Sauce

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1.5 Cups
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp  butter
  • 5 cloves  garlic minced
  • 1 cup  heavy cream
  • 1 cup  parmesan cheese grated 
  • 1/2 tsp  salt plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp  black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp  Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp  chopped fresh parsley

Method
 

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Let simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  5. Lower the heat and add the parmesan a little at a time, stirring constantly until melted.
  6. Stir in the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Taste and adjust.
  7. Add a splash of milk if too thick, or simmer longer if too thin.
  8. Stir in the chopped parsley right before servin

Notes

A few small changes can push this sauce further. Use freshly grated parmesan instead of the pre-shredded kind, since it melts more smoothly and avoids a grainy texture. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick that works well against the richness of the cream.
Swap half the parmesan for pecorino romano if you want a sharper, saltier flavor. Roasting the garlic ahead of time and mashing it into the sauce also gives a sweeter, more mellow garlic flavor than the raw sautéed version. A splash of white wine added right after the garlic also brightens the sauce before the cream goes in.