Who doesn't love a good cream sauce for pasta sometimes? I'm a hardcore tomato sauce lover most of the time and have a habit of putting lots of tomatoes in my homemade pastas but today is about making a delicious cream sauce. If you've never made a roux as a base for a sauce or soup before, don't worry its simple to make and once you've done it a few times you'll be a pro at making your own sauces! What is a roux? It is a French cooking technique that is used to thicken soups and to make the base for sauces. A roux can be made with either flour and melted butter or margarine or oil and flour and is typically followed by mixing in liquid (broth or milk) with the flour/oil or flour/butter mixture. This cream sauce recipe is my go-to base recipe for when I'm in the mood for a creamy pasta and the best part is that it comes together in minutes and can be adjusted to your personal tastes. Love garlic and lemon? Like a sauce with some kick? Like a cream sauce with more of an herby flavor? No problem, it all works. Have fun trying out combinations to find your favorite(s).
Some combination suggestions:
-red crushed pepper for some heat
-cayenne pepper for heat
-lemon juice
-garlic
-fresh or dried basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning mix
-smoked paprika or paprika
-a cup of freshly grated cheese of your choice
-cream cheese as a short cut to using a roux for thickness and creaminess
(My "Creamy Garlic Shrimp, Zucchini, Squash, Carrots, and Mushrooms Pasta that I use my cream sauce recipe for)
(My "Creamy Chicken, Squash, and Mushroom Pasta" that I use my basic cream sauce recipe for)
Ingredients:
-3 tbs. flour or omit the flour and add 4 oz. cream cheese for a creamier and thicker sauce
-4 tbs. margarine or butter
-2 cups milk
-3 tbs. lemon juice
-1/4 tsp. red crushed pepper (opt)
-2 tbs. minced garlic
-1/2 tsp. white pepper
-1 tsp. salt
-1/2 cup grated parmesan
-2 tbs. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
Note: if using cream cheese, melt the cream cheese with the butter/or margarine then follow the rest of the directions
Steps:
Melt margarine/or butter in a pot. Slowly mix in flour then milk until all the lumps from the flour mixture are smoothed out. Bring to a boil and add all seasonings. Let simmer on low for 6 minutes. Mix with your favorite pasta. Enjoy!
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