Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (2024)

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By Alisa Fleming on Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes, Dairy-Free Recipes, Entrees, Pasta, Sauces

The creamy white wine sauce in this dairy-free pasta recipe is one that I’ve enjoyed for nearly two decades. It’s a simple riff on classic béchamel from my flagship book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. I love how this recipe uses everyday ingredients, and can be quite inexpensive. Yes, I’ve made it with various cheap wines (just make sure it’s dry, not sweet!) with tasty results.

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (1)

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce on a Pasta Dinner Budget

This creamy white wine sauce is perfect over pasta with steamed vegetables. You can enjoy it as a light dish, add some protein (suggestions in the recipe notes), or use a mightier pasta, like lentil pasta. Here are some additional tips and substitution ideas for the ingredients.

  • Butter Alternatives:I’ve tested this recipe with all sorts of brands, and haven’t noticed a huge difference in flavor, aside from the saltiness. Lately, I’ve been using Country Crock, due to price. If preferred, you can use oil in place of the butter alternative. You might just need a wee bit more salt, to taste. Some people like this dish with olive oil, but other buttery oils, like avocado, can be nice. Or us a neutral-tasting oil like grapeseed, non-GMO canola, or rice bran oil.
  • Best White Wines: It can be cheap, but make sure to use a dry white wine in this recipe. It should be relatively crisp and clean. Sauvignon Blanc is the typical go-to for cream sauces, but Pinot Grigio can also be nice. I’ve had mixed results with chardonnay. Please note that I use just 1/4 cup white wine, due to personal taste. You can use up to 1/2 cup if you want a more pronounced white wine flavor. Just remember that cooking doesn’t “fix” bad wine. If you don’t like the taste, don’t use it in this creamy white wine sauce!
  • Non-Alcoholic Option: You can substitute chicken stock or chicken-free broth (for vegan) for the white wine. The finished dish will still be wonderful.
  • Milk Beverage: I use plain unsweetened coconut milk beverage for sauce recipes like this one. It has more richness than many other brands, it thickens evenly, and the flavor seems to blend quite well. But feel free to use your favorite plain, unsweetened variety. I’m not a fan of almond or oat milk in white sauces, but some people like them! Just keep in mind that this is the true wild card in the recipe. If you have any curdling, odd thickening, or flavor issues, it’s most likely due to the milk beverage you’ve chosen.

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (2)

Special Diet Notes: Creamy White Wine Sauce Pasta

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose the milk beverage and butter alternative that suit your dietary needs.

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce over Pasta

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (3)

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This simple, delicious recipe is adapted from my flagship book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. It's rich and buttery, and works atop various dishes, beyond pasta. See the post above for ingredient tips and more substitution options.

Author: Alisa Fleming

Recipe type: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dry pasta (gluten free, if needed)
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh, minced)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or ½ tablespoon fresh, minced)
  • ¼ cup white wine
  • ¼ cup dairy-free buttery spread
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour (can sub all-purpose gluten-free flour blend)
  • 2 cups warm unsweetened plain dairy-free milk beverage
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon white pepper, to taste (can sub black pepper)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions while preparing the sauce.
  2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3 minutes, or until translucent.
  3. Add the garlic and herbs and sauté for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the wine and margarine. Cook until the margarine is melted and bubbly, about 1 minute.
  5. Add the flour while continuously whisking to form a smooth paste. Cook while whisking the paste for 2 to 3 minutes. It should smell nutty and take on a golden hue.
  6. Slowly pour in the milk beverage while whisking. Whisk and cook until the sauce is smooth and reaches your desired thickness, about 5 minutes.
  7. Whisk in the salt and pepper.
  8. Put the cooked pasta in a large bowl, add the sauce, and gently toss to coat.
  9. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Notes

Vegetable Add-Ins: Steam one pound of cut broccoli, zucchini, summer squash, or carrots and toss with the pasta and sauce. Alternatively, you can sauté mushrooms and/or bell peppers.

Protein Add-Ins: Add 8 to 12 ounces cooked white fish, trout, salmon, chicken, or tempeh, or 1 (15-ounce) can drained and rinsed chickpeas with the sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving size:⅙ recipe Calories:326 Fat:11.2g Saturated fat:2g Carbohydrates:48.1g Sugar:1.3g Sodium:425mg Fiber:2.7g Protein:8.1g

For More of My Recipes, Get Go Dairy Free!

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (4)

Dairy-Free Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe over Pasta (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken white wine sauce for pasta? ›

How do you thicken white wine pasta sauce? If you're finding your sauce not thick enough, you can add in a little bit of flour at a time to thicken it up. What flavor does white wine add to white wine spaghetti sauce? White wine adds a nice tangy, crisp, tart, or sweetness to a sauce.

How do you thicken white wine sauce without flour? ›

Mix corn starch and water, pour it into sauce while stirring. Gradually add potato flakes until desired thickness.

What does white wine do in pasta sauce? ›

Both red and white wine work extremely well for adding flavor to tomato sauce. Red wine gives the sauce added richness and robustness, while white wine imparts a fruity flavor. Incorporate the wine early in the cooking process, just after the vegetables have softened.

Can I replace red wine with white wine in a recipe? ›

But if you've ever run out of red and wondered whether you can substitute white wine, the answer is yes, according to Kitchn. Both types of wine will perform that flavor-coaxing magic since both contain alcohol.

How do you make pasta sauce creamier and thicker? ›

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

How do you keep cream from curdling in wine sauce? ›

Always remember to pour the wine on the sauce and never the sauce on the wine (not a joke, the milk will curdle instantly). You may also try to avoid curdling by adding only small quantities of low alcoholic content and low acidity preheated wine only.

How do you thicken sauce without dairy? ›

10 dairy-free ways to thicken foods without wheat
  1. Pan reduction. ...
  2. Egg yolk. ...
  3. Ground flax seeds/ground chia seeds. ...
  4. Xanthan gum. ...
  5. Nut butters. ...
  6. Psyllium husks. ...
  7. Pureed veggies/fruit. ...
  8. Coconut flour/almond flour.

What is the best way to thicken a wine sauce? ›

Thickening a red wine reduction sauce is typically achieved by the reduction process itself, which involves simmering the sauce over medium-high heat until liquid evaporates and the sauce reaches a thicker consistency. Additionally, some recipes call for adding butter or flour to the sauce for added thickness.

How do you thicken white sauce without flour or cornstarch? ›

6 Ways to Thicken Sauce Without Cornstarch
  1. Reduce the sauce. Simmering your sauce over low heat will cause the water in the sauce to evaporate and the sauce to naturally thicken. ...
  2. Add egg yolks. ...
  3. Prepare a roux. ...
  4. Make a beurre manié. ...
  5. Add pureed vegetables. ...
  6. Use another thickening agent.
Jan 18, 2022

Can you put too much wine in pasta sauce? ›

As great as wine can be in adding a touch of acidic complexity to dishes and deepening tastes, too much of anything may not be ideal. While the right amount of wine can transform an average dish into something extraordinary, an extra pour can push recipes below subpar classifications.

Will white wine curdle a cream sauce? ›

Dairy sauces will curdle with the addition of acid. You have probably used this to your advantage before: It's how we have delicious things like ricotta and paneer. However, it's not what you want in your yogurt or cream sauce, so be sure anything acidic (like wine) is fully reduced before adding your dairy.

What to pair with white wine sauce? ›

Delicious pastas, seafood dishes, and plenty of chicken recipes are made even more flavorful when you add white wine. Chicken breasts with white wine sauce, garlicky linguine with clams, or brothy mussels make for the perfect dish with Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio.

What is a substitute for white wine in pasta? ›

A good substitute for a cup of white wine is a cup of broth or vegetable stock, with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for acidity. The general rule is to add one tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of broth used. For recipes requiring ¼ cup of white wine or less, it's generally safe to omit the wine altogether.

What is the best white wine to cook with? ›

There are a myriad of great choices but we tend to favor pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. These lighter-style wines will bring out the flavor of your dish without overwhelming it. Avoid robust and oaky white wines like chardonnay. Once the food is cooked, the oak-influence may cause your dish to taste bitter.

Can I use white wine vinegar instead of white wine? ›

Another good option, white wine vinegar is good as a replacement for dry white wine. It is much more acidic than white wine though so it should be diluted with water or stock. Use a ratio of 50% white wine vinegar to 50% water or stock. You will get flavour from stock but it lacks the acidity of white wine.

What to do if white pasta sauce is too watery? ›

Add a little sugar

Sugar doesn't thicken in quite the same way as starch or fat, but it does make your sauce stickier, and getting your sauce to stick to the food is the entire point. Adding sugar to water creates a solution that is thicker than water, and further heating (boiling or simmering) makes it even thicker.

What to do if white sauce is too runny? ›

Cook a little more roux in a separate saucepan by cooking equal parts butter and flour over medium-high heat until straw coloured. Whisk the into the thin sauce. Bring to the boil and stir for 5 minutes until your sauce has reached the desired consistency.

What is the classic thickening method for a white sauce? ›

To change the thickness of a white sauce, simply use more or less butter and flour (keeping them equal) while using the same amount of milk. Thin white sauce: Use 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of flour. Medium white sauce: Use 3 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of flour.

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