Go beyond your average cream sauce with this luxurious Quick & Easy Tagliarini with Saffron Cream Sauce recipe. Ready in just 15 minutes too!
Serve with a side of my Perfect Garlic Bread for a filling midweek meal the whole family will love.
This is a great weeknight supper as it’s so quick and easy. Depending on how long your pasta is to make, it’s ready in less than 15 minutes! My dinner was on the table in just 10 minutes! It really is a simple, delicious meal!
If you’re a regular visitor to Erren’s Kitchen then you know I’m a big lover of saffron. I know it’s expensive, but I’m a foodie and it’s a guilty pleasure for me to splash out on good quality ingredients. If you need more excuses to use saffron, why not try Shrimp and Asparagus Saffron Risotto or Easy One Pot Chicken and Saffron Rice. Bring that saffron sunshine into your life!
Why This Recipe Works
- The saffron adds a wonderful aromatic element to this simple pasta dish.
- Heavy cream helps to produce a deliciously silky sauce .
- Parmesan cheese helps to thicken the sauce and adds a nutty bite that can’t be beat.
What Cream For Saffron Pasta Sauce?
When cooking with cream, it’s always good to use a cream with a high-fat content as it thickens the sauce without the need for a lot of other thickening agents.
Heavy cream, whipping cream, double cream in the UK, and thickened cream in Australia are all great options.
How to Make Tagliarini in Saffron Pasta Sauce
- Fry the garlic and saffron in butter.
- Add the cream, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Boil your pasta.
- Add lemon juice, some excess pasta water, parmesan cheese.
- Stir the sauce until thick and silky.
- Season and serve!
Other Italian Dishes You’ll Love
FAQs
Saffron is most commonly used in seafood dishes such as bouillabaisse and paella. It can also be used in rice dishes such as risotto.
Saffron has an earthy sweet floral taste, it is a very complex spice.
The best way to use saffron is to infuse it in water or stock before adding it to your dish. This brings out the flavor and aroma perfectly.
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Let’s Make Quick & Easy Tagliarini with Saffron Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 clove garlic minced
- 1 Pinch saffron threads
- 1 pint heavy cream
- ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest un-waxed lemon
- 1 pound dried pasta
- 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
- fresh parsley chopped
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and saffron and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes.
- Add the cream and increase the heat to medium-high.
- Simmer until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions.
- Remove ½ cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and transfer to the skillet with the sauce.
- Add the reserved cooking water and stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
- Salt & pepper to taste.
- Serve topped with more cheese & parsley
Paul says
A really beautiful plate of food, though I think I’ve now tried enough saffron recipes from enough different sources to say that it’s not my personal favourite ingredient. Would definitely keep it in mind for a first course if I was entertaining, though.
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you for your feedback Paul, I’m glad you tried it 🙂
Ceyda says
Wow, just wow, so simple but so impressive! I’ll be making this again
Erren's Kitchen says
Great news, it’s a lovely dish isn’t it?
Yara says
Amazing recipe! I’ve tried it in an Italian restaurant before and ever since i’m searching for something similar and its the exact same and better. Thanks
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you, that’s so great to hear! 🙂
Tanya says
Love, love, LOVE this dish and so did my family! Thank you so much!
foody schmoody says
This is wonderful! I love a creamy pasta! The pinch of saffron adds a great flavor!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Love the look of this!! So creamy and luxurious!
Suzy @ The Mediterranean Dish says
You had me at creamy saffron! Love this little pasta dish!