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

Should you’re searching for an indulgent dinner choice that’s assured to impress, you’re going to LOVE immediately’s penne alla vodka recipe.

I don’t say that frivolously. In the present day’s recipe is actually spectacular and satisfying. It has an unbelievable depth of taste (even though 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 shouldn’t be 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 loads to luxuriously and generously coat each penne noodle, whereas nonetheless leaving loads 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 suggest 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 adore it:

  • Takes simply 1 hour to make from start-to-finish.
  • Makes use of complete tomatoes (that you simply’ll crush your self) for one of the best taste.
  • Pairs nicely with seared rooster or shrimp, plus do-it-yourself breadsticks for dipping.
  • May be made as gentle or spicy as you want!

What You Want

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

Listed below are the important thing substances 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 have to be the most costly model. I shouldn’t have a really useful 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 certainly indulgent consolation meals! 
  • Crimson pepper flakes. Crimson pepper provides a pleasant refined warmth. Should you like penne alla vodka to be spicy, double the quantity I’ve listed. Or, in case you don’t need any warmth, simply depart 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 nicely, 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 exploit in a lot of my pasta recipes (like beef ragu). Pasta water is liquid gold!

Bear in mind, that is simply an summary of the substances I used and why. For the total recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the submit!

Tips on how to 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 – Prepare dinner onion in melted butter and oil over medium warmth till softened, then add the garlic and cook dinner for 30 seconds.
  2. Stir within the vodka – Add the vodka, scraping the underside of the pan as you do. Prepare dinner till the vodka is decreased by half.
  3. Add the seasonings – Stir within the tomato paste and seasonings till easy and included.
  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 included.
  2. Mix and simmer – Mix the sauce till easy utilizing an immersion blender or blender. Let the sauce simmer for at the very least 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 revel 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 included, then serve.

SAM’S TIP: You received’t want the total cup of pasta water, however it can save you the remaining for warming up leftovers the subsequent day. For the reason that 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.

Continuously 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 adjustments the sauce in a noticeable means with out making it style like vodka.

Is penne alla vodka alcoholic?

Technically sure, since we’re including alcohol. Nevertheless, we’re going to cook 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 can be getting tipsy from pasta alla vodka!

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

What does penne alla vodka style like?

Pasta alla vodka has a robust 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, will probably 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 immediately’s savory recipe. We’ll be again to sweets on Thursday 😊

Get pleasure from!

Let’s bake collectively! I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps in my written recipe and video under! Should you do this recipe, you should definitely tag me on Instagram, and you may also 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

Prepare dinner Time: 45 minutes

Whole Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 servings

Energy: 580kcal

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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 cook dinner, stirring, till softened (about 3-5 minutes).

    1 cup finely chopped yellow onion

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

    1 Tablespoon minced garlic

  • Add vodka and cook dinner, scraping the underside of the pot, till vodka is decreased by about half and also you now 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 pink pepper flakes and cook dinner, stirring, till combination is easy and tomato paste is nicely included.

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

  • Add complete tomatoes, breaking them up together 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

  • Cut back warmth and simmer for at the very least half-hour, stirring sometimes. Put together pasta whereas combination simmers.

    16 oz penne pasta

  • Prepare dinner penne pasta in well-salted water based on 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 nicely and proceed to simmer over low warmth. If combination turns into too thick, add further reserved pasta water as wanted (you received’t want the total cup, however I prefer to have spare water for leftovers the subsequent day).

    ¼ cup grated parmesan, 2 Tablespoons finely sliced recent basil

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

Notes

Vodka

Use a plain/unflavored vodka. I exploit Smirnoff model, however any will work (it doesn’t have to be costly!).

Storing

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

Vitamin

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 data is predicated on third-party calculations and must be thought of an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will differ primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.