Chris has just been editing the video for this dreamy one pan dinner, and after watching several clips of that creamy-cheesy sauce, we both agreed I need to make it again. Like now!!! Let’s talk Alfredo. I’m gonna look like a bit of a dumb-ass here - but I really thought Alfredo originated in the USA. The first time I heard of it, it was for a copycat version of Olive Garden’s Alfredo. And we all know Olive garden is an American chain. When I looked into it more, recipes for this glorious creation were mostly on US websites. Alfredo isn’t something I’ve seen on the menu at Italian restaurants in the UK, so that further confirmed my suspicions (and trust me, the pasta section is the first one I look at in any Italian restaurant). Carbonara is the only menu item that even comes vaguely close in terms of creamy spaghetti – and I’m sure any Italian would curse me for suggesting there’s any similarity between carbonara and alfredo (I agree!!!).
I didn’t even see it on our holiday to Italy last year. So I was pretty surprised when my research showed me that Alfredo did originate in Italy – in 1914 by a man named Di Lelio, who made it to please his pregnant wife. She was feeling nauseous (ergh, I remember those morning sickness days well!), so he made her plain fetticine pasta with a little butter and parmesan. A simple dish with no scary, strong flavours. I think it’s fair to say that the Italian-American version, and indeed my version, is very far removed from that original dish! Version of this One Pot Rigatoni Alfredo with Chicken and Kale has parmesan, and a form of pasta. That’s as close as it gets!
Nevertheless, the creamy fettucine-based dish that’s so well known today is closer to my version. I’m just changing it up a little because: Throw some chicken in there, plenty of cream and garlic, then lots and lots of parmesan, and you have the perfect sitting-in-front-of-the-tele-watching-Game-Of-Thrones dinner. (OMG did you see it!!! I love that program almost as much as pasta!!) If you’re a fan of one-pot meals how about one of these too: One Pan Spaghetti and Meatballs in a tasty tomato sauce, or One Pot Chicken and Garlic Pasta - less creamy than the alfredo, and with a hint of lemon.
The Alfredo Chicken One Pot Pasta with Kale and Rigatoni Recipe:
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