Dress up plain veggies with this quick and easy cheese sauce! Mascarpone cheese makes it smooth and creamy, the cheddar gives it a classic flavor and a little tang from the lemon zest just brings it all home!
I love adding lemon zest to dishes, it gives them such a fresh flavor! This cheese sauce literally takes 5 minutes to make and pairs beautifully with broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, you name it. It’s a great way to add flavor and healthy fats to your macros!
Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1 tablespoon grass-fed butter
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1-2 teaspoons of salt (to taste)
*Optional: If serving with broccoli or asparagus, I highly recommend adding the zest of 2 lemons.
Preparation
Add the butter to a sauce pan on medium heat. Add in the heavy cream and heat for a minute.
Then add in the mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper. Once the mascarpone is melted, add in the cheddar cheese and stir.
Cook over medium low heat for a few minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. Mine took a little over 3 minutes.
Once thickened, add in the lemon zest and serve.
Makes 6 servings
Macros: Fat 27 grams – Protein 6 grams – Carbs (net) 2 grams
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons of salt to taste
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Add the butter to a sauce pan on medium heat. Add in the heavy cream and heat for a minute. Then add in the mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper.
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Once the mascarpone is melted, add in the cheddar cheese and stir. Cook over medium low heat for a few minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. Mine took a little over 3 minutes.
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Once thickened, add in the lemon zest and serve.
Optional: If serving with broccoli or asparagus, I highly recommend adding the zest of 2 lemons.
Coukd crwam cheese be used instead if mascarpone?
Yes, you sure can! Just be sure to adjust your macros, since the carbs will be a little higher. It will have a stronger flavor, since mascarpone is very mild, but it should still taste great 🙂
This is delicious and creamy! I love the addition of the mascarpone, makes the sauce decadent – and the lemon zest keeps it fresh. Thanks for a great recipe!
You are most welcome and thanks for the feedback! I use mascarpone in so many recipes, it’s mild in flavors, loaded with healthy fat and very low carbs. Glad you enjoyed it!
How would this pair with Mexican food? Like taco salad…
I think it would pair nicely, but I would probably omit the lemon zest.
How well does this reheat?
Very easily! You can either reheat in the microwave or stovetop, just mix in a tiny bit of hot water first.