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Garlic cream sauce is a rich and delicious addition to dishes from pizza and pasta to steaks and seafood. We've got two scrumptious recipes for you to try, and they're both quick and easy to make! Break out the butter, olive oil, and garlic and get ready to whip up some yummy garlic cream sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • Several garlic cloves (enough to make 2 tablespoons minced)
  • 2 cups heavy or whipping cream (note: not whipped cream)
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable, beef, or chicken bouillon
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream (note: not whipped cream)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Garlic Cream Sauce

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  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Peel the cloves of garlic. Then, chop the garlic very finely until you have 2 tablespoons (1/8 cup). [1]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Once the butter and oil have melted together, carefully add the minced garlic and stir.
    • The garlic should soften and smell fragrant. Avoid cooking it till it turns brown.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Add the flour directly to the butter/oil/garlic mixture and stir well. Make sure that the flour is completely incorporated. Keep cooking and stirring this mixture over medium heat, for about a minute. [2]
    • You should notice the roux start to thicken up and darken a bit in color.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    You can microwave the liquids till warm or heat them in a pan on the stove. Take care not to boil the liquids.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Carefully pour the warmed cream and bouillon into the roux, while mixing with your other hand. Keep whisking and cooking over medium heat until it starts to simmer, or bubble gently. [3]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Frequently stir the sauce so that it doesn't stick to the pan. Add salt and pepper, according to your taste. The sauce should start to thicken up after a few minutes.
    • The sauce should still be bubbling gently. At no point should you boil the sauce.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Stir well to melt the cheese. Continue cooking if you want a really thick sauce. If not, remove the sauce and serve.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making a Roasted-Garlic Cream Sauce

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  1. Heat the oven to 400 F/ 204 C. Tear off a square of aluminum foil. The piece should be around a square foot in size.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Take your whole head of garlic and set it on the middle of your aluminum square. Drizzle it with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. Then, wrap the aluminum foil around the garlic, sealing it in and making a pouch.
  3. Set your pouch of garlic in the oven, directly on a rack. Let it cook for 30 minutes. The garlic will be soft when it's finished cooking. Remove it from the oven and foil. Let it cool.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    The individual cloves of garlic should be soft enough that you can squeeze them right into the pan. Do this for the entire head of garlic. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat a minute over medium heat.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Add the flour to the sauté pan and stir well, making sure to reach all areas of the pan so that the flour is completely incorporated. Continue to stir while cooking the mixture, or roux. The roux should start to darken a bit in color. [4]
  6. You can simply microwave the stock while your roux is cooking, or you can heat the stock in a pot on the stove. Don't let it boil.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Very gradually pour the stock into your roux while whisking with your other hand. This should be a slow process so that the stock has a chance to be absorbed into the roux without separating into clumps.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Keep the temperature around medium, or medium-low if it starts to boil. The sauce will start to thicken up pretty quickly.
    • You should notice a lot of evaporation as the sauce reduces to about half of the volume. Stirring frequently will help prevent scorching, or burning.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    Stir to combine the stock/garlic mixture and cream. Remove the sauté pan from heat.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make Garlic Cream Sauce
    You can either use an immersion blender or regular blender. If using an immersion blender, transfer the sauce to a deep bowl. Then, stick the immersion blender in it and process until the sauce is smooth. If using a regular blender, transfer the sauce to the blender and blitz until smooth.
    • Blending the sauce will also smooth out any lumps of roux you might not have whisked completely.
  11. Add salt and pepper, according to your taste. Use immediately or return the sauce to the sauté pan, where you can keep it warm over low heat.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Your Garlic Cream Sauce

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    • Consider topping with: red onion, mushrooms, spinach, bacon, artichoke hearts, chicken, or broccoli.
  1. Toss it with cooked fettuccine, penne, linguine or use it in a lasagna.
    • If using it in pasta, consider grating the zest of a lemon into your sauce. This will add a citrus note and cut some of the richness.
  2. Steaks are traditionally topped with a compound butter or rich sauce. Garlic cream sauce makes an excellent replacement.
  3. Shrimp, scallops and clams are especially good with the combination of garlic and cream.
    • Toss a little sauce into a seafood pasta for an even better combination.
  4. Dip bread sticks, crackers, or veggies. For an appetizer or party, set out a tray of breads, vegetables, sausages, and a bowl of the garlic sauce for easy dipping.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you thicken creamy garlic sauce?
    Jillian Fae Downing
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Jillian Fae Downing is a Private Event Chef, Chef Educator, and the Owner of Jillian Fae Chef Services based out of Temecula, California. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in menu planning and menu research and development. Jillian Fae holds an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College and a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Arizona State University. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation and the American Personal and Private Chef Association.
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Expert Answer
    If you want a roux-based sauce, start with your garlic and your fat component. Add flour and then add milk or cream to thicken your sauce quicker.
  • Question
    Can I use milk instead of the heavy cream?
    Community Answer
    You can, but your sauce will be thinner and may require the addition of cornstarch or flour to thicken it up.
  • Question
    Can I use reduced cream instead of normal cream?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it really doesn't matter.
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      References

      1. Jillian Fae Downing. Private Event Chef & Chef Educator. Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.
      2. Jillian Fae Downing. Private Event Chef & Chef Educator. Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.
      3. Jillian Fae Downing. Private Event Chef & Chef Educator. Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.
      4. Jillian Fae Downing. Private Event Chef & Chef Educator. Expert Interview. 2 September 2021.
      5. Videos provided by Tiedyeman's Videos
      6. http://www.grouprecipes.com/38827/garlic-cream-sauce.html
      7. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/cooking-tips/garlic-tips#slide-1
      8. http://www.simplecomfortfood.com/2011/04/22/pizza-garlic-cream-sauce/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make garlic cream sauce, first add 1 tablespoon (14 g) of butter and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted. Then, mince 2 tablespoons (30 g) worth of garlic and add it to the saucepan. Next, add 2 tablespoons (16 g) of flour and stir for 1 minute to make a roux. In a separate bowl, add 2 cups (500 mL) of heavy cream and 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of bouillon. Microwave the mixture for a few seconds at a time until it’s hot but not boiling. Pour the heated mixture into the roux and continue stirring until it starts to simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir the mixture occasionally as it thickens. After a few minutes, add ½ cup (40 g) of shredded Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Once the sauce reaches your desired thickness, remove it from the heat and serve! For tips on making a cream sauce with roasted garlic, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Mikki Tolliver

        Nov 12, 2017

        "I put prawns in the creamy garlic sauce, it was a hit! They thought it came from Red lobster; I told them no, ..." more
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