Penne Alla Vodka – Sugar Spun Run

My Penne Alla Vodka is extremely flavorful, creamy, and easy. That is a simple, largely hands-off recipe that can feed your loved ones in simply 1 hour! Recipe features a how-to video.

Wooden spoon resting in a large skillet of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan cheese.

Insanely Flavorful Penne Alla Vodka

If you happen to’re on the lookout for an indulgent dinner possibility that’s assured to impress, you’re going to LOVE right now’s penne alla vodka recipe.

I don’t say that frivolously. Immediately’s recipe is actually spectacular and satisfying. It has an unimaginable depth of taste (even supposing it’s meatless, it rivals my beef ragu in taste) that’s completely balanced and restaurant-quality. It jogs my memory a little bit of my tomato soup in that the sauce is just not overly-acidic from the tomatoes, however creamy and wealthy as an alternative.

And that sauce… really other-worldly. I’m not stingy with it, both. There’s lots to luxuriously and generously coat each penne noodle, whereas nonetheless leaving lots to go round and to be sopped up with garlic knots.

Close-up view of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

My pasta alla vodka recipe doesn’t require a lot hands-on time however I do strongly advocate permitting it half-hour of simmering for greatest taste.

And that vodka?

It isn’t only for present; it helps give the sauce a creamy, velvety mouthfeel and provides to the depth of taste. It’s a key element of this recipe.

Why you’ll like it:

  • Takes simply 1 hour to make from start-to-finish.
  • Makes use of complete tomatoes (that you simply’ll crush your self) for the perfect taste.
  • Pairs properly with seared hen or shrimp, plus selfmade breadsticks for dipping.
  • Could be made as delicate or spicy as you want!

What You Want

Overhead view of ingredients including penne pasta, vodka, canned tomatoes, cream, and more.

Listed here are the important thing elements that make this pasta alla vodka so insanely irresistible:

  • Tomatoes. I want to make use of complete tomatoes and really feel they make a greater sauce, however you can substitute crushed tomatoes in a pinch.
  • Vodka. Use a plain, unflavored vodka. Just about any model will work right here, it doesn’t must be the costliest model. I do not need a advisable substitute if you don’t want to use vodka, it might utterly change the dish.
  • Heavy cream. We’ll be utilizing a good bit of cream to mood the tomatoes. This dish is unquestionably indulgent consolation meals! 
  • Purple pepper flakes. Purple pepper provides a pleasant refined warmth. If you happen to like penne alla vodka to be spicy, double the quantity I’ve listed. Or, in case you don’t need any warmth, simply go away it out!
  • Pasta. Penne is normally the norm, however you actually can use any kind of noodle to make it pasta alla vodka. Rigatoni would work simply as properly, as would any thicker noodle that can enable the sauce to cling to it.

SAM’S TIP: Save your pasta water! It additionally provides taste and helps the sauce cling completely to the noodles. This a easy trick I take advantage of in a lot of my pasta recipes (like beef ragu). Pasta water is liquid gold!

Keep in mind, that is simply an summary of the elements I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll all the way down to the underside of the publish!

Make Pasta Alla Vodka

Collage of four photos showing onions being cooked and combined with tomatoes to make a pasta sauce.
  1. Create a flavorful base – Cook dinner onion in melted butter and oil over medium warmth till softened, then add the garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds.
  2. Stir within the vodka – Add the vodka, scraping the underside of the pan as you do. Cook dinner till the vodka is diminished by half.
  3. Add the seasonings – Stir within the tomato paste and seasonings till easy and integrated.
  4. Break up the tomatoes – Add the tomatoes and use your spoon to interrupt them down into smaller items.
Collage of four photos showing cream being poured into tomato sauce before being blended and combined with penne pasta.
  1. Add the cream – Slowly stir within the cream till integrated.
  2. Mix and simmer – Mix the sauce till easy utilizing an immersion blender or blender. Let the sauce simmer for not less than half-hour.
  3. Make your pasta – Put together your pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water earlier than draining (do NOT rinse!).
  4. Mix and luxuriate in – Add the pasta to the sauce together with a splash of pasta water. Stir within the parmesan or basil and preserve simmering till the sauce and pasta are integrated, then serve.

SAM’S TIP: You gained’t want the complete cup of pasta water, however it can save you the remaining for warming up leftovers the following day. Because the pasta absorbs a lot of the liquid, leftovers can appear dry, I’ll normally reheat then with a splash of pasta water to make them creamy and saucy once more.

Overhead view of a skillet of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Why add vodka to pasta sauce?

The vodka melds the cream and tomatoes collectively and enhances the general taste of the sauce, notably the tomatoes. It creates a silky texture and modifications the sauce in a noticeable approach with out making it style like vodka.

Is penne alla vodka alcoholic?

Technically sure, since we’re including alcohol. Nevertheless, we’re going to prepare dinner off most of that alcohol (if not all), and the ultimate dish can have little or no left as soon as divided amongst 6 parts. Nobody might be getting tipsy from pasta alla vodka!

Nevertheless, in case you’re actually fearful about it, I counsel you utilize your individual discretion when serving to alcohol-sensitive company and children.

What does penne alla vodka style like?

Pasta alla vodka has a powerful tomato style mellowed by cream and vodka. It’s wealthy, however nice to eat with a well-rounded taste. Whereas you should still be capable of detect some vodka taste by the point the sauce is finished cooking, it will likely be very refined and most actually not the principle taste of the dish.

Skillet of penne pasta in a tomato vodka sauce topped with parmesan cheese.

I hope you loved right now’s savory recipe. We’ll be again to sweets on Thursday 😊

Take pleasure in!

Let’s bake collectively! I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps in my written recipe and video beneath! If you happen to do that recipe, you’ll want to tag me on Instagram, and you can even discover me on YouTube and Facebook

Overhead view of a skillet of penne alla vodka topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

Penne alla vodka

My penne alla vodka is extremely flavorful, creamy, and easy. That is a simple, largely hands-off recipe that can feed your loved ones in simply 1 hour! Recipe features a how-to video!

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Course: Dinner

Delicacies: American, Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 45 minutes

Whole Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 servings

Energy: 580kcal

Forestall your display from going darkish

Directions

  • Warmth oil and butter in a big pot over medium warmth till butter is melted and pan is sizzling.

    2 Tablespoons additional virgin olive oil, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

  • Add onion and prepare dinner, stirring, till softened (about 3-5 minutes).

    1 cup finely chopped yellow onion

  • Add garlic and prepare dinner till aromatic (about 30 seconds).

    1 Tablespoon minced garlic

  • Add vodka and prepare dinner, scraping the underside of the pot, till vodka is diminished by about half and also you not get slapped within the face by the odor of alcohol in case you whiff the steam.

    ⅓ cup vodka

  • Add tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crimson pepper flakes and prepare dinner, stirring, till combination is easy and tomato paste is properly integrated.

    2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¾ teaspoons desk salt, ½ teaspoon floor black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes

  • Add complete tomatoes, breaking them up along with your spatula or spoon.

    28 oz can complete peeled tomatoes

  • Drizzle in cream and stir till well-combined. Use your immersion blender to puree the sauce till easy (in case you don’t have an immersion blender, switch sauce to a blender and puree there, then return to the pot).

    1 cup + 2 Tablespoons heavy cream

  • Scale back warmth and simmer for not less than half-hour, stirring often. Put together pasta whereas combination simmers.

    16 oz penne pasta

  • Cook dinner penne pasta in well-salted water in keeping with package deal directions. When completed cooking, reserve 1 cup of pasta water earlier than draining.

  • Add cooked, drained pasta to pot with a splash of reserved pasta water and add grated parmesan and sliced basil. Stir properly and proceed to simmer over low warmth. If combination turns into too thick, add further reserved pasta water as wanted (you gained’t want the complete cup, however I wish to have spare water for leftovers the following day).

    ¼ cup grated parmesan, 2 Tablespoons finely sliced contemporary basil

  • Serve, topped with further grated parmesan and contemporary basil if desired.

Notes

Vodka

Use a plain/unflavored vodka. I take advantage of Smirnoff model, however any will work (it doesn’t must be costly!).

Storing

Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. This sauce might also be frozen in an hermetic container for as much as a number of months.

Diet

Serving: 1serving | Energy: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 14g | Fats: 25g | Saturated Fats: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 8g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 572mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1039IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 3mg

Dietary info is predicated on third-party calculations and needs to be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will range based mostly upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking methodology, portion sizes, and extra.