Artichoke Alfredo Sauce

This runner-up recipe in our Quick Pasta Sauces contest is inspired by Alfredo sauce but adds artichoke hearts. When we made Mary’s sauce, here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

• Add sour cream for a tanginess to balance the sauce’s heaviness.
• Imported Parmesan cheese has the best flavor and is well worth tracking down. Purchase a whole chunk and grate it as needed to keep its flavor fresh. Wrap the remaining cheese tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
• Make sure to thoroughly season the water in which the pasta is cooked; otherwise the pasta’s flavor will be bland. We recommend 1 tablespoon of salt per gallon of water.