White Sauce Pasta recipe(Italian restaurant style)

Today I made Italian restaurant style white sauce pasta, or Béchamel sauce pasta, in my kitchen for dinner. White Sauce Pasta is the most popular Italian dish made with boiled pasta, creamy white sauce(or Béchamel sauce), Italian herbs & seasoning. This is a super delicious, super creamy, completely veg white sauce pasta recipe, any one can easily make it at home. 

Just toss any type of boiled pasta in a silky smooth creamy white sauce or béchamel sauce made with butter, garlic, maida(all-purpose flour), whole milk and Italian herbs and this pasta ready. In Italian restaurants, white sauce pasta is garnished with a sprinkle of Italian herbs, roasted garlic and freshly grated parmesan cheese, and served with garlic bread as sides. Pasta lovers mostly choose this dish for a light dinner with a glass of wine.

To make a perfect white sauce pasta, first, we need to make a perfect white sauce. If the white sauce is not perfectly made, has lumps or is not smooth and creamy, it can spoil this dish.  Another most important thing about this dish is pasta should be perfectly boiled; overcooking also spoils the taste.

Tips to make white sauce pasta

• Which pasta is used to cook with white sauce? – Here, I used durum wheat penne pasta. Though you can use pasta from any variety, like macaroni, farfalle, fusilli, conchiglie, or spaghetti. You can even use healthy whole wheat pasta (atta made pasta) instead of all-purpose flour pasta(maida made pasta). 
• Ways of making white sauce – In the traditional method, White sauce is made by sautéing flour in butter until slightly browned. Then, by adding chillied milk and continuously stirring with the sauteed flour, make a silky smooth creamy lump-free white sauce. Lastly, that sauce is flavoured with nutmeg powder and seasoned with salt & white pepper.
• To make a healthy version of white sauce, well, you can replace maida with whole wheat flour or atta. That does not change the taste for sure.
• White sauce vs béchamel sauce – Which is called white sauce in Italy, is known as béchamel sauce in France. So if you have seen pasta with béchamel sauce on a restaurant’s menu, surely go for it as it is none other than white sauce pasta.
• Best used Italian herbs – Any Italian dish is incomplete without the aroma of Italian herbs.  Pasta(whether made with white sauce or red sauce) is one of them. So in Italian food, oregano, basil, and parsley are the most common herbs used for taste and flavour. No matter whether you are using fresh herbs or dry herbs flavours are the same. 
• Garlic enhances the taste of pasta– Butter-tossed chopped garlic is used in making pasta’s white sauce. A melange of flavours of butter and garlic makes the sauce scrumptious and flavourful. Generally, fresh garlic is used in an authentic white sauce recipe. However, you can use garlic powder instead.
• Smart Tips to use seasoning– You can use store-bought garlic flakes or store Domino’s extra seasoning(which comes with their pizza). That is simply the best idea, as the packet contains roasted mixed herbs and garlic seasoning. 
• Which cheese is best for this pasta? Parmesan cheese is the best cheese used in authentic pasta. Though quite expensive but don’t use mozzarella cheese that is only dedicated to pizza, not pasta. That makes your pasta chewy and sticky at the same time, especially If you serve it cold. Instead of Parmesan cheese, you can use Amul or Go cheese cubes or cheese slices, grated or chopping manner. 
• Use of veggies & how to use – Here, I have not used any veggies except for black olives, but you can add any veggies as per your choice. Especially if your kids do not eat vegetables but are fond of pasta, and can have any vegetables with it. Then you can directly use little-boiled corn. Can use fresh capsicum, carrots(finely chopped) or even boiled broccoli or cauliflower florets after tossing in butter or a little olive oil.

The best way to make this pasta healthy

• To make it healthy, while making the pasta sauce, replace all-purpose flour or maida with whole wheat flour.
• You can use whole wheat pasta as well.
• Even you can use low-fat milk or skimmed milk in the sauce.
• Even can replace the butter with margarine or white oil.
• To make it healthy follow my advice on substitutes, use lots of veggies, and avoid using cheese.

How to make this pasta for school tiffin

Pasta is very popular among kids as my kid is a huge fan of this white sauce pasta. I often prepare this dish at home for his tiffin. It is a very good tiffin idea for school-going kids.

• Just boiled all the veggies and pasta last night and also make all the seasoning ready ( or use ready-made seasonings).
• Make the sauce in the morning when preparing the tiffin.
• Then toss the boiled pasta & veggies in the sauce.
• Lastly, sprinkle the seasoning and turn off the heat.

Not only for kids but for preparing delicious and quick dinner ideas, pasta works great among all other recipes.

You may check some Italian recipes on my website

• Mini pizza recipe
• Red sauce pasta
• Stuffed Garlic Bread recipe
• Dominos Style Veg pizza recipe
• Chicken pizza recipe

Try this creamy white sauce pasta at home and share your valuable feedback with me by writing your comment in the comment section below.

How to make white sauce pasta step by step with  pictures

Make pasta seasoning 

For making authentic Italian-style pasta, garlic- herbs seasoning(described below) is one of the very important ingredients.

•  Heat a pan, keep the flame at low and add 1/2 tsp butter to it.
• Then add 1 tsp finely chopped garlic to it and stir it until it gets light golden brown color.

• Next add 1/2 tsp parsley (finely chopped if fresh), 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1/2 tsp basil to it. Or you can use 1+1/2 tsp dry mixed herbs.

• Then fry it until the garlic gets a nice golden brown color and gets crisp along with the herbs. As shown in the pic.

• Lastly, remove it from the pan and keep it aside. Even you can crush the seasoning before adding it to the pasta.

Boil the pasta

• First, take a pan with 3 cups of water((≈ 710 ml) and place it on a high flame.

• Then add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp oil ( any vegetable oil / olive oil) to the water and bring it to a boil. 

• Once the water starts boiling, add 1 cup of pasta ( penne / macaroni / any pasta)to it. 
• Cook al dente ( means pasta is perfectly boiled but still firm not too soft).
• Stir it occasionally till 5 minutes, after 5 mins, check whether the pasta is perfectly boiled or not.
• Then remove one pasta from the pan and cut it with a spoon or fork. If cooked al dente, can easily cut the pasta with spoon or fork.

• For me, it takes about 10 mins to cook. Boil it until you can easily cut the pasta as shown in the pic.
• Then immediately remove it from the heat and strain the water from it. As shown in the pic.

Making creamy white sauce (béchamel sauce) 

• Take a pan, place it on low flame, add 2 tbsp butter to it, and let the butter melt.
• When butter completely melts down, add 1+1/2 tbsp maida or all-purpose flour to it.
• Then stir it continuously so that no single lump can’t be formed. Stir it until the butter-flour mix gets a light golden brown color.

• Now add 1/2 cup(≈119 ml) of cold milk(cold milk prevents it from making a lump) to it.
• Stir it continuously to make the sauce lump free. Even you can use a whisker to stir it in a better way.

• The milk should be nicely mixed with the butter-flour mix without making a single lump.
• Then gradually add the rest of 1 cup of milk(≈237 ml) into two batches. The addition of milk in 2-3 batches will help to make a smooth, creamy, lump-free white sauce.

• Then add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp nutmeg powder, and  1/2 tsp crushed white pepper(can use black pepper too) to it. Mix it nicely.

• Creamy lump-free white sauce aka béchamel sauce is ready to prepare pasta. This sauce will be a little thick as shown in the pic. 

Toss the pasta in white sauce

• Once the white sauce is ready, add the boiled pasta to it and mix it nicely.

• Now add the garlic-herbs seasoning from the top and mix it nicely with the pasta.

• Then add 4-5 sliced black olives and lastly add 1/2 tsp of chili flakes(optional) to it, mix it nicely.

• Now, cook it for 2-3 mins on a low flame and switch off the flame.

• Then immediately add 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese(optional). Stir it once to mix it.

• Italian restaurant-style garlic-flavored white sauce pasta is ready. Serve it hot and relish it with a drink.

White Sauce Pasta recipe (Italian restaurant style)

Recipe by Moumita PaulCourse: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

25

minutes

This is an authentic Italian restaurant style simply yummy white sauce pasta recipe made with boiled penne pasta, creamy garlic white sauce (Béchamel sauce), Italian herbs & seasoning. Best to serve at dinner with butter-tossed garlic bread and a glass of wine.

Ingredients

• For Boiling Pasta

• 1 cup Penne Pasta/Macaroni/Spagettti

• 3 cups of Water

• 1/2 tsp Salt

• 1/2 tsp Olive oil(or vegetable oil)

• For making white sauce/Béchamel sauce

• 2 tbsp Butter

• 1+1/2 tbsp Maida or All-purpose flour

• 1+1/2 cup Whole Milk

• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg powder

• 1/2 tsp Crushed White pepper

• 1/2 tsp Salt(as per taste)

• Ingredients for seasoning

• 1 tsp Garlic(finely chopped)

• 1/2 tsp Parsley(finely chopped if fresh)

• 1/2 tsp Oregano

• 1/2 tsp Basil

• 1/2 tsp Butter

• For garnishing

• 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese(grated)

• 4-5 Black olives(cut into slices)

• 1/2 tsp Chili flakes

Instruction

• Make pasta seasoning
• For making this pasta seasoning, heat a pan, keep the flame at low and add 1/2 tsp butter to it.
• Then add 1 tsp finely chopped garlic to it and stir it until it gets light golden brown color.
• Next add 1/2 tsp parsley (finely chopped if fresh), 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1/2 tsp basil to it. Or you can use 1+1/2 tsp dry mixed herbs.
• Then fry it until the garlic gets a nice golden brown color and gets crisp along with the herbs.
• Lastly, remove it from the pan and keep it aside. Even you can crush the seasoning before adding it to the pasta.
• Boil the pasta
• First, take a pan with 3 cups of water (≈ 710 ml) and place it on a high flame.
• Then add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp oil (any vegetable oil/olive oil) to the water and bring it to a boil. 
• Once the water starts boiling, add 1 cup of pasta (penne / macaroni / any pasta) to it. 
• Cook al dente (means pasta is perfectly boiled but still firm not too soft).
• Stir it occasionally till 5 minutes, after 5 mins, check whether the pasta is perfectly boiled or not.
• Then remove one pasta from the pan and cut it with a spoon or fork. If cooked al dente, you can easily cut with the spoon or fork .
• For me, it takes about 10 mins to cook. Boil it until you can easily cut the pasta.
• Then immediately remove it from the heat and strain the water from it.
• Making creamy white sauce (béchamel sauce)
• Take a pan, place it on low flame, add 2 tbsp butter to it, and let the butter melt.
• When butter completely melts down, add 1+1/2 tbsp maida or all-purpose flour to it.
• Then stir it continuously so that no single lump can’t be formed. Stir it until the butter-flour mix gets a light golden brown color.
• Now add 1/2 cup (≈119 ml) of cold milk (cold milk prevents it from making a lump) to it.
• Stir it continuously to make the sauce lump free. Even you can use a whisker to stir it in a better way.
• The milk should be nicely mixed with the butter-flour mix without making a single lump.
• Then gradually add the rest of 1 cup of milk(≈237 ml) into two batches. The addition of milk in 2-3 batches will help to make a smooth, creamy, lump-free white sauce.
• Then add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp nutmeg powder, and  1/2 tsp crushed white pepper(can use black pepper too) to it. Mix it nicely.
• Creamy lump-free white sauce aka béchamel sauce is ready to prepare pasta. This sauce will be a little thick as shown in the above pic. 
• Cook pasta in white sauce
• Once the white sauce is ready, add the boiled pasta to it and mix it nicely.
• Now add the pasta seasoning from the top and mix it nicely with the pasta.
• Then add 4-5 sliced black olives and lastly add 1/2 tsp of chili flakes(optional) to it, mix it nicely.
• Now, cook it for 2-3 mins on a low flame and switch off the flame.
  
• Then immediately add 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese(optional). Stir it once to mix it.
• Italian restaurant style garlic-flavored white sauce pasta is ready. Serve it hot and relish it with butter tossed garlic bread and a drink.

Important tips about this recipe

• Pasta cooking tips– You can use any type of pasta, but remember to cook it al dente ( perfectly cooked but remains firm, need to cut or bite with your teeth). Means don’t make it too soft that pasta started broken after boiling. So that, while you toss the pasta in the sauce, it might get broken into pieces or mashed in the pasta sauce. 
• Milk-related tips- Always use cold milk. Use cold milk or the milk straight from the refrigerator to prevent forming lumps. After adding cold milk quick stir or whisk is essential to prevent forming lumps. Hot milk or milk at room temperature can create a lump, if adding hot milk, continuous stirring can only make a silky smooth white sauce. 
• Do not make the sauce thick– Don’t allow the white sauce to be thicker, that might get it dry and sticky once cooling down.
• Don’t add cheese, if eat cold – Don’t use cheese if you pack it as a kids’ tiffin. As the cheese will make it dry and sticky when it releases the heat.
• Mayonnaise makes the sauce tasty– You can use 2 tbsp mayonnaise while making the white sauce. Mayonnaise indeed enhance the taste of pasta.
• Fresh cream makes it creamy– Fresh cream is not required if using both milk and mayonnaise. However, you can use 2-3 tbsp fresh cream to make it more creamy but fresh cream makes it sweeter as well. 
• For chicken add-on – Boiled chicken cubes or shredded chicken (≈ 100g) can be added for 2 mins cooking in the white sauce before adding with pasta. Even before adding in sauce, chicken (must be boiled chicken) can be tossed for 1-2 mins in 3 tsp butter with 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp pepper & 3/4 tsp chili flakes. 
• For prawn add-on – Toss the prawn (≈100g) in 3 tsp butter with 1/2 tsp little salt & 1 tsp pepper, cook it for 2 mins in white sauce, then add the pasta to the sauce.

Summary

Recipe Name

White sauce pasta recipe | how to make italian style garlic white sauce pasta recipe

Author Name

Moumita Paul

Published On

2022-07-15

Preparation Time

5M

Cook Time

20M

Total Time

25M

Average Rating

4 Based on 6 Review(s)