If you remember our Gastronomic Events Calendar, every February 7th is Fettuccine Alfredo Day. A very popular pasta of Italian origin in the United States. It is a pasta with a creamy and delicious sauce, made with butter and Parmesan cheese, which also has a very tender history.
But, what are Fettuccine Alfredo?
Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta of Italian origin. Although there they are not known by this name, since where this dish has really triumphed is in the United States.
It consists of a pasta dish, Fettuccine, which is an elongated pasta, similar to tagliatelle, but slightly narrower; accompanied with a delicious Alfredo sauce. This sauce is made with butter and Parmesan cheese. Although nowadays, the recipe has been evolving, and we can find Alfredo sauce with cream, cream, roux…
Fettuccine Alfredo Day
This ephemeris is relatively recent. For it began in 2015, as a tribute to its creator, Alfredo di Lelio, who was born on February 7.
And the fact is that this pasta is very appreciated and popular in the United States, and there, everything must have its own day on the calendar. But it is not only celebrated in the United States. Also in Italy we find events and celebrations this day to commemorate this pasta dish. For example, at the Bio-Medical Campus of the University of Rome, this year more than 150 people have been invited to the celebration.
So if you also want to celebrate Fettuccine Alfredo Day, join us to see his recipe. For, without a doubt, it’s the best way to celebrate!
Celebrate it with its most traditional recipe
Now that we have seen the simplicity of this dish, let’s take the recipe step by step. We, to celebrate Fettuccine Alfredo Day, are going to prepare its most traditional recipe. That is, for the sauce we are only going to use butter, parmesan cheese, and some spices.
If you want, you can also add milk or cream to make a creamier sauce, but it is not necessary.
So, on the one hand, we will make the sauce and, on the other hand, we will cook the pasta. You can use the pasta of your choice. Alfredo sauce is perfect for all types of pasta. But the most traditional is to use it to accompany Fettuccine. If you cannot find them, you can substitute them with tagliatelle or spaghetti. You can also choose between dry or fresh pasta, your choice.
Let’s go to the recipe.
Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 g Fettuccine or simila
- 100 g Butter
- 90 g Parmesan cheese
- 2 Garlic cloves g
- 1 Bay Leaf
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Nutmeg
Instructions
- We can prepare the pasta and the sauce at the same time, so that they are ready at the same time. So, on the one hand, we are going to brown the garlic and the bay leaf in a large pot, with a drizzle of oil.
- When they get color, add water and bring to boil. As soon as it starts to boil, add the pasta. Cook until al dente (the time will depend on whether you have chosen fresh or dry pasta, you can check the time needed on the package itself).
- On the other hand, to prepare the sauce, we are going to put the butter in a frying pan, cut into small cubes so that it melts more easily.
- When the butter is dissolved, add the grated cheese. Let both ingredients integrate, stirring.To bind the sauce, once the cheese has melted, add a couple of spoonfuls or three of the pasta cooking broth.
- Mix until it is completely integrated, add a pinch of salt, to taste, a little pepper, and a little nutmeg.
- Add the fettuccine or the pasta of your choice, previously drained, and mix well.Now you have ready some great Fettuccine Alfredo, delicious!
As you can see, the original and most traditional recipe is very simple to prepare. In fact, therein lies part of its magic, in its simplicity.
But, as with all recipes, you can add your personal touch. Since it admits many more ingredients. For example, there is no sauce to which a previous sofrito of onion would be bad.
We can also accompany the Alfredo sauce with many other ingredients, such as any type of meat or fish, diced.
As we say, use your imagination and make your own version of this dish. Remember that anything goes in the kitchen.
Who invented them?
And, to finish celebrating Fettuccine Alfredo Day, let’s see a little about its origin and history. In fact, this day has been marked in honor of its creator, Alfredo di Lelio.
Alfredo ran a family restaurant, where he worked together with his wife. The year was 1907, and Alfredo was expecting his first child. However, he was very worried about his pregnant wife’s lack of appetite.
Thinking over and over, he came up with a simple but delicious dish that would also be caloric enough to nourish his wife and the baby they were expecting.
Based on a similar recipe, Fettuccine al Burro, which was served with butter, he decided to add Parmesan cheese to add more nutrients and calories to the dish. His wife, as soon as she tasted it, was delighted with the dish, so they decided to include it in the menu of their restaurant.
With this we finish celebrating Fettuccine Alfred Day. And you, are you going to celebrate it? If you liked it, remember to leave us your comments, ideas, opinions… We love to read them! And don’t forget to follow us on social networks to keep up to date with all our publications. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
