Do you love the taste of Fettuccine Alfredo, but are terrified to order it at a restaurant because you’ve heard how high in calories it is? Sadly the rumors are true. One very popular Italian restaurant chain reports their dinner sized portion of Fettuccini Alfredo contains 1,220 calories! YIKES!! That’s the total amount of calories I consume in an entire day!
So, arming myself with that information and knowing how much my daughter loves ordering it when we eat out, I set my mind to creating a healthier, less guilty version, yet still maintaining the thick creamy sauce everyone loves. When I tested my final recipe out on my toughest critics, my family, they gave me an enthusiastic “two-thumbs up”.
And the best part, this recipe is only 350 calories per serving! Yep. This one’s a keeper.
Ingredients:
1 package reduced fat Neufchatel cream cheese, softened
1 box whole grain linguini, uncooked
2 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 teaspoons flour
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
1) Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside in a serving bowl.
2) In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk the broth and the flour together until blended.
3) Add in the cream cheese, Parmesan, nutmeg, salt and pepper and continue to whisk until all ingredients are combined and the sauce begins to thicken.
4) When the sauce has reached the level of creaminess you prefer, add it to the bowl with the cooked pasta and toss the mixture until the pasta is thoroughly coated.
5) To serve, spoon a portion of the pasta onto a plate and sprinkle it with the fresh chopped parsley and shredded Parmesan.