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Parmesan Sauce with Pancetta and Walnuts

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 19, 2011

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 1 cup, enough for 1 recipe Potato Gnocchi entree)

Parmesan Sauce with Pancetta and Walnuts

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth ¼ cup heavy cream 2 large egg yolks 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)⅛ teaspoon pepper 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 ounces pancetta, chopped fine½ cup walnuts, chopped coarse

Instructions

  1. Whisk broth, cream, yolks, Parmesan, and pepper together in bowl until smooth. Heat oil and pancetta in 12-inch skillet over medium heat; cook until pancetta is crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in walnuts and cook until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat; gradually add broth mixture, whisking constantly. Return skillet to medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is lightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Cover to keep warm.
Parmesan Sauce with Pancetta and Walnuts

Parmesan Sauce with Pancetta and Walnuts

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 1 cup, enough for 1 recipe Potato Gnocchi entree)

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup heavy cream
2 large egg yolks
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)
⅛ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, chopped fine
½ cup walnuts, chopped coarse

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup heavy cream
2 large egg yolks
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)
⅛ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, chopped fine
½ cup walnuts, chopped coarse

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup heavy cream
2 large egg yolks
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)
⅛ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, chopped fine
½ cup walnuts, chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

For a full-bodied, complex sauce to accompany our gnocchi recipe, we found a combination of Parmesan, pancetta, and walnuts fit the bill perfectly--and took just minutes to make. A combination of broth, cream, yolks, and Parmesan gave our sauce recipe a rich, velvety base, and pancetta boosted the meaty flavor.

Instructions

  1. Whisk broth, cream, yolks, Parmesan, and pepper together in bowl until smooth. Heat oil and pancetta in 12-inch skillet over medium heat; cook until pancetta is crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in walnuts and cook until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat; gradually add broth mixture, whisking constantly. Return skillet to medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is lightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Cover to keep warm.

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