Are you looking over your shoulder feeling guilty as you cook? Are we conditioned to think that delicious food must not be good for us?
Dietitians in the know have downgraded Fettuccine Alfredo by its two, simple ingredients: cream and parmigiano reggiano cheese. These food prohibitionists have even been known to regard it as a “heart attack on a plate.” But if prepared without butter, as in my recipe below, and eaten in moderation, this reputation is undeserved.
What’s this? The National Institutes of Health calls parmigiano reggiano an “optimal source of essential nutrients for acquisition and maintenance of bone health.” Really?! They say the cheese is easily digestible by all ages. Good, because I was going to make it anyway.
Choose nutrient-dense foods as you age, they say. Okay, okay, no need to twist my arm, Paleo-people. *looks over shoulder and scurries forward* There is also a considerable case being raised in favor of a high saturated fat, high cholesterol diet such as the French diet, which incorporates a lot of cream butter and cheese in every meal but shows very low incidence of heart-related disease across the population. But our government has not warmed up to that one… yet.
In the meantime, enjoy one of the greatest pasta dishes of all time, butter-free and guilt-free — just keep in mind that portion control is the greater factor in weight control and heart disease. And don’t forget your exercise!
Here’s a video from my YouTube Channel on how to prepare Fettuccine Alfredo!
Fettuccine Alfredo
Serves 2
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups parmigiano reggiano cheese, grated
1/4 portion of homemade pasta noodles
Freshly ground pepper
Using a sauté pan and over low heat, melt the cheese with the cream without stirring. Once the cheese has melted, gently stir to combine. Leave on low heat until ready to use.
cook homemade pasta noodles to the al dente stage, drain in a colander and stir into sauce. Serve on heated plates with a salad.
Omnivore Variation: for fettuccine carbonara, add a 1/4 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon to be sauce just before combining with noodles.
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