These creamy pasta recipes are perfect for this point in spring when the weather is still making up its mind.
You’ll find some classics below, plus some non-traditional pastas. They’re each made creamy by different ingredients, from crème fraîche to sour cream to pouring cream.
Plus a traditional carbonara, made creamy by the addition of four eggs.
The mixed mushroom pasta is perfect for weeknights as it’s made all in one pan, which saves on washing up. And Julie Goodwin’s chicken and mushroom creamy pasta, which takes only 30 minutes to make.
What’s the difference between crème fraîche and sour cream?
Crème fraîche
This was originally the name the French used in the days before refrigeration for the cream that had ripened, on the 12-hour journey from the dairy region of Normandy to Paris, to a thicker texture with a slightly acidic flavour.
Crème fraîche is now made by adding a lactic acid culture to pure cream. Containing 35-48 per cent butterfat, it is thicker than sour cream and has a different, lighter flavour because of the related but different cultures used.
Unlike sour cream, crème fraîche can be boiled without curdling.
Sour cream
This is cream with a lactic acid culture added to give a slightly tart/tangy flavour. The culture also thickens the cream to soft spreading or dropping consistency.
Light sour cream is made in the same way as regular sour cream but only has 18 per cent butterfat, so is thinner.
What’s the simplest of creamy pasta recipes?
It’s hard to go past a fettuccine alfredo for a simple, creamy pasta recipe. This one is from our cookbook The Complete Cook, published in 2009.
Fettucine alfredo
Prep + cook time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
500g fettuccine
80g butter
300ml cream
1/2 cup (40g) finely grated parmesan cheese
METHOD
- Cook pasta in large saucepan boiling water until just tender; drain.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in medium frying pan. Add cream: bring to the boil then reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered about 5 minutes or until sauce reduces by half.
- Add cheese; stir over low heat about 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Combine pasta and sauce in large bowl, toss gently.
Spaghetti carbonara
Pasta alla vodka
Mixed mushroom pasta
Pink sauce pasta
Julie Goodwin’s creamy chicken & mushroom pasta
Creamy baked shell pasta
Creamy mushroom pasta
Fettuccine carbonara
Creamy carbonara
Fettuccine boscaiola
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