Any tips for making a smooth alfredo sauce?

Question

Each time I try my sauce is gritty. Of all the recipes I've followed through the years this one gives me the most trouble.

Answer 1

it's curdling because your heat is too high. if the sauce boils it'll do that so keep it low and be patient... the cheese will melt. add your cheese slowly and make sure it's chopped fine or grated.

Answer 2

Are you using the parmesan cheese that comes in a cardboard can?  If so, that may be your problem.  That is a dried cheese item and it doesn't reconstitute well and would give your sauce a gritty texture.  Try getting real parmesan cheese from a deli or using another kind of grated white cheese instead.  That may help.

Answer 3

well it depends. is there an ingredient that has that gritty texture in the recipe? if there is and it is something that is flavor (like avocodo etc.) then put in the food processor to make it smooth. also check your cream, yogurt whatever you are using to make sure it is creamy and not gritty. hope this helps

Answer 4

well, the authentic alfredo calls for whipping or heavy cream, which can be boiled w/o it curdling.  Which means it gets hot enough tomelt the  parmesan cheese.  And parm does not melt easily w/o a lto of heat.  So if you are subbing half-and-half or evaporated milk to cut down on calories, you will nto be able to boil it (or it will curdle) which means you cannot get it hot enough to melt your parm.  Which leads to gritty sauce.  Get it?

Try makign ti w/ real cream and grated, not shredded, parm.  Grate it yourself rather than using the stuff in the green can.  Whisk a lot and let it simmer/boil until the cheese melts.  Will be as smooth as a baby's butt.

Answer 5

Start with a simple thin white sauce, add the cheese slowly while stirring, add additional cream if needed. Your heat is probably too high.

Here is the perfect Alfredo sauce:

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

salt & pepper

nutmeg

bring the cream & butter to a boil in a large saucepan

reduce heat to low and simmer for about 1 minute

add 6 tablespoons of the parmesan & whisk until smooth, for about a minute

remove from the heat & add pepper, a little salt, and a generous pinch of nutmeg.

Answer 6

Yup. I agree. Lower the heat. AND KEEP WHISKING!

Good luck.  

Answer 7

Use a wire whisk ... and add the flour gradually, whisking the whole time.  Get a small whisk to use in a sauce pan