Pasta is a popular food and it originates from Italy. There are different types of pasta, depending on the actual pasta shells used, the sauce used as well as the amount of time the pasta is cooked for.
Pasta includes only two ingredients, pasta shells, and some kind of sauce to cook the shells in.
Key Takeaways
- White sauce pasta uses bechamel sauce made from butter, flour, and milk, while Alfredo pasta relies on a sauce made from butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese.
- Alfredo pasta is richer and creamier than white sauce pasta.
- White sauce pasta is more versatile, allowing for various ingredient additions, while Alfredo pasta traditionally features fettuccine noodles and limited additional ingredients.
White Sauce Pasta vs Alfredo Pasta
White sauce pasta is a dish made with a basic white sauce made by cooking butter and flour together to make a roux, then adding milk and seasoning to make a creamy sauce. Alfredo pasta is a specific type of white sauce pasta originating in Italy, made with butter, cream, and grated Parmesan cheese.
White sauce pasta is a very popular kind of pasta which is enjoyed all over the world. It is made by cooking the pasta shells with the sauce over low heat.
White sauce pasta is made from bechamel sauce which is a thick liquid made by heating milk and flour.
Alfredo pasta is one of the oldest pasta in the world. It is a popular meal and it can be made from different types of pasta shells, such as macaroni, spaghetti, and so on.
Alfredo pasta is made from Alfredo sauce which is a mixture of butter and heavy cream.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | White Sauce Pasta | Alfredo Pasta |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | It is a modern spin on traditional pasta | Alfredo pasta is one of the oldest types of pasta |
| Sauce used | White sauce pasta is made from bechamel sauce | Alfredo pasta is made from Alfredo sauce |
| Origin | As bechamel is a french sauce, white sauce pasta is a French-Italian dish | Alfredo pasta is a traditional Italian pasta |
| Ingredients | White sauce is made from milk, butter, and wheat flour | Alfredo sauce is made from butter, heavy cream, and cheese |
| Health factors | White sauce pasta is lower in sodium | Alfredo pasta contains a higher amount of sodium |
What is White Sauce Pasta?
White sauce pasta is a type of pasta which is enjoyed all over the world. It is a popular modern spin on the traditional Italian pasta and for the most part, it includes the same ingredients as a regular traditional Italian pasta.
White sauce pasta is made from white sauce and some kind of pasta shell, spaghetti.
The white sauce is bechamel sauce, and it is prepared from milk, butter, and wheat flour. As bechamel sauce is french in origin, white sauce pasta is a French-Italian dish.
The bechamel sauce is made by heating butter and wheat flour over a low flame to cook the wheat flour and remove the raw smell and taste. The mixture is known as a roux.
After the wheat flour has been cooked, milk is added to the roux and the resulting mixture is known as bechamel sauce. Additionally, salt and other spices can be added at this stage.
The sauce is then mixed with prepared pasta shells and the combined pasta is cooked over low heat for some time so that the pasta is completely incorporated with the sauce.
As it is not a traditional Italian pasta, white sauce pasta is not served by authentic Italian pasta restaurants.
What is Alfredo Pasta?
Alfredo pasta is a type of traditional Italian pasta which is enjoyed all over the world. It is one of the oldest Italian pasta and it is made with the traditional ingredients and in the proper way.
Alfredo pasta can be made from any kind of pasta shell, but spaghetti is the most common pasta choice.
As it is an old recipe, many authentic Italian restaurants have their variation, in terms of the spices used for making the dish.
The dish is made from Alfredo sauce. It is a traditional sauce made by combining butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese to make a thick liquid.
Herbs such as oregano and other spices can then be added to enhance the flavor of the thick sauce.
Pre-cooked pasta is mixed in with the thick sauce and cooked over medium heat to combine and incorporate the pasta properly.
Due to the heavy cream and parmesan cheese present in the sauce, the dish is very creamy and has a thick consistency.
After the pasta is cooked, it is sometimes topped with parmesan cheese shavings while the pasta is still hot and steamy. The dish is hence very high in sodium compared to the other types of Italian pasta.
Main Differences Between White sauce Pasta and Alfredo Pasta
- White sauce Pasta is a modern spin on traditional pasta. Alfredo pasta is one of the oldest types of pasta
- White sauce pasta is made from bechamel sauce. Alfredo pasta is made from Alfredo sauce
- As bechamel is a french sauce, white sauce pasta is a French-Italian dish. Alfredo pasta is a traditional Italian pasta
- White sauce is made from milk, butter, and wheat flour. Alfredo sauce is made from butter, heavy cream, and cheese
- White sauce pasta is lower in sodium. Alfredo pasta contains a higher amount of sodium
- https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/133/2/522/4687754
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01187.x
Last Updated : 19 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
