Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

Mmm... This was our dinner tonight. Guiltless Alfredo Sauce from www.ourbestbites.com, noodles, sauteed chicken, and steamed broccoli. The sauce is not quite guiltless, but it is a ton healthier than other alfredo recipes. There is only 1 tablespoon of butter, and fat-free milk instead of cream. It's pretty versatile, too. I've only served it with noodles, but you could also use it as a white sauce on pizza, among other things.

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce
Printable version here

2 cups low-fat (or fat-free) milk
3 oz. low-fat cream cheese
2 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup FRESHLY grated Parmesan cheese*

1. Puree the milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender. Set aside.

2. In a non-stick sauce pan (at least 2 quarts), melt butter on medium heat and add garlic. Saute for about 30 seconds, then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir frequently for about 3-4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few more minutes, until it starts to thicken.

3. Remove pan from heat. Add the cheese, stir, then cover. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Add salt & pepper to taste. This made enough sauce for our family of 5, plus a little extra.

Note- if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will become very thick. Just reheat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal.

*Cheese- I didn't use quite a full cup. You could use a combination of hard cheeses, such as Parmesan & Asiago, if you'd like. ***I've also learned, courtesy of my sister, that this recipe only works with cheese that you grate yourself. It will turn out grainy if you use pre-grated cheese. That's because pre-grated cheese has added ingredients so that it doesn't clump together in the package- which unfortunately also makes it not come together when in a sauce. Just a head's up!

Why I love it? It tastes fantastic, it's nice & creamy, tastes better than jarred sauce (and is more natural), and is not too unhealthy. This recipe is definitely one I'll make again & again!