Description
Penne alla Vodka blends creamy sauce and vibrant tomatoes for an easy, flavorful dish. Perfect for a quick dinner that everyone will love, combining simple ingredients like vodka and parmesan for an irresistible taste.
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 and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water, setting the pasta aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions and garlic, sautéing for about 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Carefully pour in the vodka and simmer for 3-5 minutes until reduced by half to enhance the flavors of the sauce.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes to the skillet, gently simmering for 10-12 minutes until the sauce thickens and the flavors deepen.
- Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, mixing until the sauce becomes silky and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss the cooked penne into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as necessary to reach the desired consistency. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, allow the vodka to simmer longer during the reduction phase.
Feel free to adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spice level to your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 70mg