Easy Alfredo with Peas
Canadians embrace food – we value family traditions, global trends, and local ingredients. Like our food, families across Canada are evolving. Blended, single-parent and multi-ethnic families have become part of our modern mosaic which echoes our growing tastes and preferences. But what has stayed the same is our love of pasta.
Almost nine in 10 households have pasta in their cupboard. What’s more, it’s a good, simple food in an industry striving to meet the demands of today’s health-minded families. Catelli, fascinated with how much we love pasta, talked to Canadians and uncovered that pasta basically makes us feel good. Three quarters of Canadians feel relaxed because it’s easy meal making or like that it offers so many options. And we all know how affordable pasta is – it’s really the most delicious meal we can make for the price.
Yet, what makes pasta so special is that it’s different for every family. It’s comfort food, an easy meal time win, or a delicious entertaining option. Here are some tips from Chef Michael Allemeier for making a crowd pleasing pasta meal:
• Fresh is best: Experiment with a variety of vegetables – from rapini to butternut squash. There are so many simple flavour combinations that include fresh vegetables that are easy to pick up at your local grocer or farmer’s market.
• Simply elevate: It’s easy to take your pasta dish to the next level with the right combo of ingredients. You can make a delicious spaghetti Alfredo with just whipping cream, peas, and a touch of salt and nutmeg.
• Healthy tastes better: Almost half of us say pasta is a healthy meal option based on its simple ingredients and the fact that it can be further paired with ‘good for me’ ingredients like kale or spinach. Take it one step further by choosing pasta with a very high source of fibre or 100 per cent whole grain.
Chef Michael Allemeier’s Easy Alfredo with Peas
Preparation Time: 5-7 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg. (375 g Catelli Smart Spaghetti)
- 375 mL whipping cream
- 2 cups 500 mL peas, fresh (or frozen optional)
- 1 cup 250 mL shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup 80 mL green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp 2 mL ground nutmeg
- Salt to taste
Directions:
Add 4 litres of water to a pot and add 1 tbsp (15 mL) salt to water. Bring to a boil.
Heat a large pot or frying pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add cream and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 4 minutes to slightly thicken. Keep warm.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Add peas to the hot cream and return to a simmer. Once pasta is cooked, drain well and add to the hot sauce.
Add Parmesan cheese, nutmeg and sliced green onions and bring to a simmer. Adjust salt to taste and serve at once.
Chef tip: To add a little more gusto to the dish, experiment with garlic and mushrooms in the sauce and finish it off by stirring an egg yolk into the dish.
The Author:
More meal time pasta inspiration is available at Catelli.ca.
