Velvety Basil Parmesan Cream Sauce
Transform your meals with this luxurious Velvety Basil Parmesan Cream Sauce, born from an abundance of fresh basil gifted by a friend. This sauce strikes the perfect balance between richness and freshness, making it a delightful companion for pasta, grilled chicken, or even drizzled over roasted vegetables. Its simple preparation allows you to create an impressive dish that details the beauty of fresh herbs, ensuring that every bite bursts with flavor. Ideal for family dinners or casual gatherings, this creamy sauce is sure to become a staple in your culinary repertoire.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
8
Ingredients
Ingredients
Fresh basil leaves
2 cups (washed and loosely packed)
Garlic cloves
4 (peeled)
Pine nuts
2 ounces (lightly toasted)
Shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (freshly grated)
Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup (none)
Light cream
1 pint (none)
Salt
to taste (none)
Pepper
to taste (none)
Instructions
1
In a medium saucepan, heat the light cream over medium-low heat, adding salt and pepper to taste. Allow it to warm and come to a gentle simmer while you prepare the basil mixture.
2
In a food processor, combine the fresh basil, peeled garlic cloves, lightly toasted pine nuts, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth.
3
With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil until the sauce is well blended and emulsified, and the color turns a lighter shade of green.
4
Once the cream is at a light simmer, carefully add half of the warm cream to the basil mixture. Blend until perfectly smooth, then return this mixture to the saucepan with the remaining cream.
5
Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
6
Remove from heat and serve immediately over your favorite pasta, grilled chicken, or roasted vegetables. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Velvety Basil Parmesan Cream Sauce?
It is a luxurious, creamy sauce made with fresh basil, parmesan, and light cream, designed to balance richness and freshness.
What are the primary ingredients for this recipe?
The main ingredients are fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts, shredded parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and light cream.
How much basil is needed?
You will need 2 cups of washed and loosely packed fresh basil leaves.
Can I use different types of nuts?
While the recipe calls for 2 ounces of pine nuts, you could substitute them with other nuts like walnuts if preferred.
How do I prepare the garlic?
The recipe requires 4 garlic cloves that are peeled before being added to the food processor.
What kind of cream should I use?
The recipe specifies using one pint of light cream.
Should the pine nuts be raw?
No, the pine nuts should be lightly toasted for the best flavor profile.
How much parmesan cheese is required?
You should use 1/2 cup of freshly grated shredded parmesan cheese.
Is pre-grated parmesan okay?
Freshly grated parmesan is recommended for a smoother melt and better flavor.
How much olive oil is in the sauce?
The recipe uses 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil.
How do I incorporate the olive oil?
Slowly drizzle the oil into the food processor while it is running to ensure the sauce emulsifies properly.
What is the first step in making the sauce?
Heat the light cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat with salt and pepper until it reaches a gentle simmer.
What tools are required for the basil mixture?
You will need a food processor to pulse the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese.
How smooth should the basil mixture be?
Pulse the ingredients until the mixture is almost smooth before adding the olive oil.
What is the tempering process in this recipe?
Carefully add half of the warm cream to the basil mixture in the processor, blend until smooth, then return everything to the saucepan.
How long does the sauce need to simmer?
The sauce should simmer gently for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe makes approximately 4 servings.
What should I serve this sauce with?
It is delicious over pasta, grilled chicken, or roasted vegetables.
What category does this recipe belong to?
It is categorized under Sauces.
What color should the final sauce be?
The sauce turns a lighter shade of green as the olive oil is emulsified into the mixture.
Is this a difficult recipe to make?
No, it is tagged as an easy recipe and is suitable for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Does the recipe include salt and pepper?
Yes, salt and pepper are added to taste during the initial heating of the cream.
What is the origin story of this sauce?
The recipe was created to use an abundance of fresh basil gifted by a friend.
Can I serve this sauce immediately?
Yes, it is recommended to remove from heat and serve immediately for the best texture.
What heat setting should I use for the cream?
Use medium-low heat to ensure the cream warms gently without scorching.
Is this recipe suitable for Italian-style cooking?
Yes, it is specifically tagged for Italian cooking.
Can I use this as a pasta sauce?
Absolutely, it is specifically tagged as a pasta sauce.
How do I ensure the sauce is velvety?
By blending the basil mixture with half the cream until perfectly smooth before final simmering.
How many ingredients total are in this recipe?
There are a total of 8 ingredients.
What is the primary flavor profile?
The sauce features a fresh herbal basil flavor combined with rich cream and salty parmesan.