Description
Penne alla Vodka brings together delicious crushed tomatoes, vodka, and creamy Parmesan for a flavorful meal. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- fresh basil leaves, torn (for garnish)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set pasta aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and garlic, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Carefully pour in the vodka and let it simmer, reducing by half over 3-5 minutes to extract flavors without overpowering the sauce.
- Add crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Simmer gently for 10-12 minutes until the sauce thickens and deepens in flavor.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until the sauce is silky and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss the cooked penne into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes for your desired spice level.
Make sure to reserve some pasta water; it helps to create the perfect sauce texture.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg