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Penne alla Vodka

Penne in a silky, blush-pink tomato cream sauce with a little vodka and chili.

Serves 4

Prep 10 min

Cook 25 min

Penne alla Vodka
Photo: J Doll, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Ingredients

  • 12 oz penne
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup vodka
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons torn basil

Steps

  1. Step 1. Boil the penne in salted water until al dente. Save 1 cup of the water, then drain.

  2. Step 2. Melt the butter and cook the shallot for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste, and pepper flakes and cook for 3 minutes until the paste darkens.

  3. Step 3. Add the vodka and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer 8 minutes.

  4. Step 4. Add the cream, Parmesan, and salt. Toss in the pasta with a splash of pasta water. Top with basil.

Where this recipe comes from

Yoribang Italian pasta recipes by Yoribang. License: Free to use. View the original (opens in a new tab)

More Yoribang write-ups of Italian pasta dishes. Salt the pasta water well, until it tastes like mild seawater, and always save a cup of it: the starch is what makes sauces cling. Guanciale, Pecorino Romano, and ricotta salata are sold at Italian delis and many supermarkets.