Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

One of the greatest meals to be created is having its own national holiday February 7th! Get ready for National Fettuccine Alfredo Day by cooking up a dish for you and your loved one (or just make a trip to Olive Garden). There is a reason this beautiful Italian dish gets its own national holiday, from the creamy thick sauce, and the perfectly boiled noodles, to the garlic that fills the aroma of any room. Even the pickiest eaters can’t deny the mouth-watering goodness of fettuccine alfredo. 

However, it can be restricting for some people due to the recipe being full of gluten and dairy. This can be very frustrating because everyone wants to be able to enjoy their favorite meals. The traditional fettuccine alfredo, made in the early 1900s, features fettuccine noodles tossed with butter and parmesan cheese. Later on, people started to add cream, broccoli, garlic, and meats to the recipe. Some versions of Alfredo sauce are thickened with eggs or starch. Luckily, there are plenty of recipes online that give everyone the option to cook this meal to their wants and needs!

Gluten-Free Recipe

https://wheatbythewayside.com/gluten-free-fettuccine-alfredo/#ingredients

Ingredients (6 servings)

• 9-12 oz of gluten-free fettuccine noodles

• ½ cup butter
• 16 oz of heavy cream
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese 

Instructions

• In one pot, cook the noodles in boiling salted water according to package directions. 
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add minced garlic and sauté for about one minute.
• Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
• Turn heat to medium-low and continue to simmer the heavy cream for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and gradually whisk the parmesan cheese into the mixture until smooth.
• Season with pepper and salt (if needed). 
• Add the cooked pasta to the Alfredo sauce. Toss gently to combine. 
• Stir in a little pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.
• Garnish with chopped Italian parsley, if desired.

Dairy-Free Recipe

https://www.thespruceeats.com/dairy-free-fettuccine-alfredo-1001434

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 8 oz fettuccine noodles
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
• 2 ¼ cups of soy milk
• 3 tablespoons of thyme 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In one pot, cook the noodles in boiling salted water according to package directions. 
• In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium to low heat.
• Add flour and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly until smooth.
• Continuing to stir, add soy milk and thyme and bring to a simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add to fettuccine and mix in.

If neither of these recipes suit your requirements, there are plenty of other recipes provided online! You can find more dairy-free options, gluten-free options, and full on vegan options! There is always a substitution out there. Don’t be afraid to try something new, you never know what you will like until you try. Cook some delicious pasta and curl up with loved ones to enjoy the pleasures of carbs! Happy National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!