Name: Festive Christmas Fettuccine Recipe with Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients: 1 lb fettuccine pasta; 1 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1 clove garlic, minced; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves (for color and garnish); Optional – 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts for crunch; Optional – 1/2 cup dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds for a pop of festive color and sweetness; Optional – Grilled chicken strips or sautéed shrimp for protein; Pasta – Any long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, or gluten-free pasta; Heavy Cream – Full-fat coconut milk, half-and-half, or mixture of milk and cream; Butter – Salted butter, vegan butter, or ghee; Parmesan Cheese – Asiago, Grana Padano, or for a vegan option nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan; Garlic – Garlic powder; Nutmeg – It can be omitted or replaced with a pinch of allspice; Parsley – Fresh basil or dried parsley; Pine Nuts or Walnuts – Toasted almonds, pecans, or even pumpkin seeds; Dried Cranberries or Pomegranate Seeds – Chopped dried apricots or cherries.; Protein – Pan-seared scallops, flaked smoked salmon or for a vegetarian option, try roasted chickpeas or sautéed mushrooms.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients:

1 lb fettuccine pasta
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves (for color and garnish)

Optional for an extra festive crunch:

Optional – 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts for crunch
Optional – 1/2 cup dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds for a pop of festive color and sweetness
Optional – Grilled chicken strips or sautéed shrimp for protein

Alternative Ingredients:

Pasta – Any long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, or gluten-free pasta
Heavy Cream – Full-fat coconut milk, half-and-half, or mixture of milk and cream
Butter – Salted butter, vegan butter, or ghee
Parmesan Cheese – Asiago, Grana Padano, or for a vegan option nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan
Garlic – Garlic powder
Nutmeg – It can be omitted or replaced with a pinch of allspice
Parsley – Fresh basil or dried parsley
Pine Nuts or Walnuts – Toasted almonds, pecans, or even pumpkin seeds
Dried Cranberries or Pomegranate Seeds – Chopped dried apricots or cherries.
Protein – Pan-seared scallops, flaked smoked salmon or for a vegetarian option, try roasted chickpeas or sautéed mushrooms.

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Instructions

Cook fresh fettuccine according to the package instructions in a large pot of boiling salted water (teaspoon of salt is enough) until al dente – then drain and set aside.
Tip: Make sure to save a little pasta water to thin the sauce, just in case.
While the pasta cooks, heat a large frying pan over medium-low heat until the butter melts, then add the minced garlic and sauté for about 2-3 minutes until it’s fragrant but not browned (super important!)
Pour in the heavy cream, and bring the mixture to a low simmer – here, I like to stir it first for a bit before just letting it simmer to make sure all the aroma of the garlic is well mixed. Just be careful not to let it boil, otherwise you may have the dairy separating itself.
Reduce the heat to low and gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy – scrape the bottom of the pan well here.
Tip: If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the pasta water that you saved until you reach your desired consistency.
Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the parsley, and add the optional nuts and dried fruit at this step, if you’re using it – if you want something fresh to balance the richness of the sauce, add some lemon juice to it.
Add the cooked fettuccine to the sauce, tossing gently with tongs until the pasta is well coated.
If you’re adding chicken or shrimp, place the protein on top of the pasta before serving it.

Serve this delicious dish hot and garnished with your choice of protein, extra Parmesan cheese, nuts, and a sprinkle of the festive cranberries or pomegranate seeds on top to wow anyone – including yourself!