Easy Creamy Saffron Sauce with Pasta
Updated Feb 26, 2025, Published Jan 04, 2022
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Easy 20 minute Creamy Saffron Sauce with pasta is a perfect and quick meal for any weeknight.
The deep, unique, and sweet flavor of saffron fits well in this creamy sauce that coats pasta like a warm and cozy blanket. The natural yellow/orange color makes this dish bright and light as well as comforting and filling.
If you love saffron try these St. Lucia Sweet Saffron Rolls (almond filling).
This creamy pasta recipe meal will have you scooping spoonfuls and wondering how it can taste this good?! With only a few ingredients and 20 minutes you will have a delicious go-to meal for any lunch or dinner.
Table of Contents
- Simple Ingredients
- What is SAFFRON?
- What Does Saffron Taste Like?
- Where can I buy Saffron?
- Simple and Easy Saffron Pasta Sauce
- Why Using REAL Parmigiano Cheese is Better for Sauces
- More Pasta Recipes For You
- How can you Tell if You are Buying Real Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese?
- Pasta Shape for Cream Sauce
- Variations
- Creamy Saffron Sauce with Pasta Recipe
Simple Ingredients
- Heavy cream
- Nutmeg
- Parmigiano cheese
- Pasta of choice
- Saffron
- Salt
What is SAFFRON?
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”. The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and coloring agent in food.
What Does Saffron Taste Like?
Saffron has a sweet, floral taste to it. It’s earthy and has a complex nuanced flavor. On the other hand, saffron that tastes bitter, metallic, or plastic like are often cheap imitators of this unique spice and should be avoided. So, make sure that the saffron you buy is REAL- there are lots of pesky imitators.
Where can I buy Saffron?
You can buy them at most grocery stores and some speciality stores. Amazon has a good price for the quality with this link:
Simple and Easy Saffron Pasta Sauce
This sauce is simple to make and its creamy smooth perfection is perfect for any pasta shape or variety. After a few quick stirs of a wooden spoon (or any other kitchen utensil) your pasta will absorb the sauce and drown in the yummy remains.
Why Using REAL Parmigiano Cheese is Better for Sauces
The only safeguard to perfectly melt parmigiano cheese is to use authentic and real or fresh parmigiano cheese. Don’t buy the bags of shredded parmesan for melting purposes. Visit the deli and get fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano, if at all possible. The other varieties typically have added stabilizers that create a gloppy mess when it get hot.
Pre-grated cheese contains preservatives like potato starch and natamycin, meant to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag. That also means they don’t melt together as well when cooking. Freshly grated cheese lacks those additives so your recipes will turn out less clumpy and much smoother.
More Pasta Recipes For You
- Here’s another creamy pasta recipe that you will enjoy, loaded with mushrooms and creamy sauce: mushroom pasta!
How can you Tell if You are Buying Real Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese?
When Parmigiano Reggiano is in its traditional whole form, or cut into slices with its crust, the original product is easily recognisable. The crust, or any part of it, must clearly show the dots that spell out Parmigiano Reggiano. This is in fact a mark of origin that is marked on the form when it is made.
Read this Why you Should Grate your Own Cheese for more details on pre grated cheeses.
I love topping the dish with thick fresh shavings of Parmigiano Cheese. This adds a hearty bite to the creamy dish.
Pasta Shape for Cream Sauce
Wide, flat pastas like Fresh Homemade Pappardelle Pasta Recipe are ideal for sopping up creamy sauces. I also like thin short pasta, such as penne and fusilli. Generally, the wider the noodle, the heavier the sauce.
Long, round pastas like spaghetti are best with olive oil- and tomato-based sauces, which coat each strand evenly. Go thinner for delicate preparations.
Here are other creamy sauces you will love: pappardelle in creamy mascarpone mushroom sauce and amatriciana sauce recipe. If you prefer a meaty rich red sauce try Beef Short Rib Ragu with Pappardelle Pasta
For a detailed overview of what shapes pair best with different pasta sauces read this- Pasta Quality Matters: Cheap vs. Expensive Pasta
Variations
This saffron sauce is amazing over perfectly cooked pasta. Here are other ways you can use and serve this tasty sauce:
- Serve it as a sauce over grilled meats or fish
- Pour it over steamed vegetables
If you want more of a meal try adding:
- Grilled shrimp
- Steamed baby peas
- Oven baked Salmon
However you choose to enjoy this delicious and flavorful sauce is up to you!
From my Cucina to Your Table. Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
Made with Amore, Elena
More Delicious Recipes for YOU
- Authentic Italian Pesto Genovese (Basil pesto)
- Eggplant pasta sauce
- Red Wine Braised Chicken and Plums Recipe
- Tomato focaccia
- Kefir Honey Panna Cotta Italian Recipe
- Easy “Crack” Lemon Bars (Winning Recipe)
- Italian Crostata Recipe (Jam filled Tart)
Serve this creamy saffron pasta dish as a side, or it is a decadent meal!
Creamy Saffron Sauce with Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
- 1 dash nutmeg, optional
- 1 teaspoon saffron
- ¾ lbs of your favorite pasta variety
- Salt to taste
- Extra thick shavings of fresh parmigiano for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add plenty of salt to season and start to cook your favorite pasta variety
- In a medium sauce pan over low heat pour in: cream, cheese, saffron, and nutmeg (if using). Add salt to taste. Stir constantly and simmer about 5-6 minutes until a creamy slightly bubbly mixture forms. Drain pasta and place in a large serving bowl. Pour cream sauce on top and mix until combined. Enjoy and serve HOT!!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This curdled for us, not sure why!
Did you use fresh;y grated cheese? I find that makes a big difference. Maybe the cream boiled too long or too hard? I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out for you. I’m happy to help troubleshoot. It is a wonderful recipe.
I made this tonight and my husband and I loved it. So easy and so yummy!
So happy you enjoyed it!