This Vodka Pasta, or Penne alla Vodka, tastes prefer it got here straight from a comfy Italian trattoria. The key lies within the tomato-cream Vodka Sauce. It’s wealthy, silky, and just a bit bit fancy because of a splash of vodka, but lifeless straightforward. I’m fully besotted!
Late to the Vodka Pasta celebration!
I really feel like this was the viral pasta about 5 years in the past. I vaguely bear in mind plenty of cool younger folks and rad cooks making it.
Naturally, I missed the development as a result of I’m simply not hip sufficient to maintain up! 😅 So I solely made it for the primary time a number of weekends in the past and understood the hype. The sauce is wealthy and velvety, and tastes way more luxurious than the brief substances checklist would counsel. And I think about the usage of vodka offers it further street-cred with the youthful era.
In the meantime, this un-hip dork is extra happy over the comfort of utilizing a complete packet of pasta and a complete tub of tomato paste – fairly useful!
All jokes apart although, vodka is the magic. Like wine in cooking, it provides depth and complexity that takes a easy cream and tomato sauce into wow territory. However, it doesn’t style alcoholic in any respect! (Except you need it to – simply maintain pouring).
What goes in vodka pasta
You’ll see variations round that use each canned tomato or passata and tomato paste, and the ratios of vodka, parmesan and cream are everywhere. However there’s normal consensus on the substances that go in, so I don’t use any groundbreaking. Although in surprising information, I strayed from my standard trusted sources (NYT Cooking, Ina Garten, Lidia Bastianich and America’s Check Kitchen) by solely utilizing tomato paste as a result of I want the flavour, with the bonus that it shaves quarter-hour off the cook dinner time. See FAQ beneath for extra dorky improvement chatter!
Components in Vodka Pasta
Sarcastically, although vodka is within the identify, that is nonetheless completely price making with out vodka. 🙂 Although I’d substitute with both a slosh of wine or hen inventory, else the sauce is somewhat too one dimensional.
When you’re cooking for youths, add the vodka earlier so you possibly can totally cook dinner out all of the alcohol. For grown ups, it’s good so as to add it in in the direction of the top (don’t fear, gained’t style boozy, however you get extra of the floraly notes).
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Vodka – Use no matter you’ve bought! And now you all know what my go-to is. 🙂 Keep away from flavoured vodkas – undecided now’s the time to make use of that Apple Vodka you have been mad for final summer time!
Substitute with gin (not one too herbaceous although), white wine or for non alcoholic, use hen inventory/broth as an alternative.
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Pasta – Penne is traditional, ziti is principally the identical (it’s penne, however with ridges), rigatoni can also be very talked-about. Although actually, you can also make this with any form pasta – lengthy or brief – and it’s going to be fab. Oh wait – I’d keep away from tiny pasta although, like risoni/orzo, ditalini, dinosaur pasta. I feel there’s an excessive amount of sauce.
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Tomato paste (UK: tomato purée) – I really like that this recipe makes use of a complete normal tub of tomato paste! I take advantage of common although “double focus” is ok too. Use the identical quantity as I discover the flavour isn’t any stronger although it does have richer tomato flavour. Nonetheless, we cook dinner off the tomato paste on this recipe which improves the flavour so the standard distinction doesn’t come into play right here.
Word: US normal tubes are 133g (4.5oz), Aussie ones are 140g. That 7g distinction gained’t spoil your dinner, promise! 🙂
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Garlic and onion – Important aromatics for the sauce.
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Cream – Use thickened cream (US: heavy cream, UK: whipping cream) as it’s a little thicker than common pouring cream. Although really, any pourable cream ought to work fantastic on this recipe because it makes use of a lot tomato paste which does a lot of the heavy lifting to thicken the sauce.
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Crimson pepper flakes (chilli flakes) – Non-compulsory further, I take advantage of 1/2 teaspoon which provides this a stunning background hum of heat which I actually like on this creamy sauce. Additionally feels somewhat grown up for a grown-up sauce. 🙂
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Parmesan – Provides salt into the sauce that’s extra attention-grabbing than simply utilizing salt. Plus, further for garnish!
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Pinch of parsley for sprinkle, in case you’re feeling fancy.
The way to make Vodka Pasta
The timing of this recipe works effectively so the sauce is prepared as soon as the pasta is cooked. It’s an important no stress recipe!
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Boil the pasta in a big pot of salted water for the time per the packet instructions till it’s al dente (simply cooked, not comfortable and mushy).
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Save pasta water – Simply earlier than draining, give the pasta an enormous stir to agitate the starch (ie make the watery murky) then scoop out 1 cup of the water. We’re going to make use of this when tossing the pasta within the sauce.
💡It is a key step for making pasta dishes to make the sauce cling to the pasta (and subsequently ending up in your mouth!) as an alternative of pooling within the base of your bowl. The starch in pasta water emulsifies with the sauce’s fats, naturally thickening it and making it follow the pasta. Cooking science at work!
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Sauté the onion and garlic on medium excessive till translucent, about 1 1/2 minutes. Then cook dinner off the tomato paste. This isn’t a regular step in all vodka sauces however I feel it actually makes a distinction – it takes off the bitter edge and deepens the flavour. It additionally ranges the enjoying area whether or not utilizing a superb Italian model (like Mutti double concentrated tomato paste) or generic manufacturers.
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Simmer – Add the cream, combine to dissolve the tomato paste in, then add the vodka, chilli flakes, salt and pepper. Decrease the warmth to medium so it’s simmering gently and cook dinner for 3 minutes, stirring repeatedly so the bottom doesn’t catch – vital, as a result of this cream sauce is thicker than standard due to the quantity of tomato paste in it. Then stir the parmesan in till melted (actually takes seconds).
TIPS: In case your pasta isn’t prepared but, flip off the range at this level. Cooking for youths? Add the vodka earlier than the tomato paste and cook dinner till largely evaporated to cook dinner out the alcohol.
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Toss toss toss! Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water (see step 2 for what this does). Toss on medium warmth for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or till the pasta is coated within the pasta sauce.
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Serve instantly with a bathe of additional parmesan and a pinch of parsley!
I heat the pasta bowls
I do know it is a random place to discuss rant about this, however I wish to heat pasta bowls for creamy pastas – have I discussed this earlier than?? Creamy sauces thicken quick and a heat bowl helps maintain them silky for longer, and by the point you’re midway via (particularly in case you spent the primary jiffy attacking garlic bread), it’s gone from silky to……. effectively, much less so.
So I heat bowls within the microwave whereas the sauce is simmering – 30 seconds for one, 1 minute for 4, then go away them in there till I’m able to serve. A small factor that makes an enormous distinction!
Anyway, sufficient about heat bowls 😅 Hope you give this one a go – traditional Italian trattoria meals, made simply at house! – Nagi x
PS A aspect of Garlic Bread, Mega Italian Salad and Tiramisu will actually make you’re feeling such as you’re at a country Italian restaurant!
Vodka Pasta FAQ
Apparently not, it’s an Italian-American dish. Particulars of precise origins are considerably murky however I’ve learn that it was initially invented as a advertising and marketing push for vodka gross sales again within the 1970’s. Intelligent! 🙂
Sure it may possibly, although it can not be a Vodka Pasta! However it’s a divine creamy tomato pasta in case you use hen inventory/broth as an alternative to maintain it non alcoholic, or you should utilize white wine. The recipe card affords recommendations!
Penne is conventional – Penne alla Vodka – although rigatoni appears to be fairly common too. However this sauce will actually work with any brief or lengthy pasta. Simply keep away from very small ones – like risoni/orzo, tiny stars and so on – as I feel they are going to get misplaced on this creamy sauce.
Completely! Vodka pasta is a good clean canvas for extras. Stir via shredded cooked hen or shrimp/prawns for a protein enhance, or cook dinner some bacon or pancetta with the onion for added flavour. Sautéed mushrooms and child spinach would work properly too. Simply keep away from something too daring that may overpower the creamy-tomato flavour – this sauce is the star!
Additionally, contemplate decreasing the quantity of pasta barely else you could be brief on sauce, or enhance the quantity of sauce (click on on servings and slide).
I do know the introduction suggests I’ve by no means had Vodka Pasta earlier than, however I’ve really, although fairly way back, effectively earlier than it turned “stylish”. I feel the primary time was at Lidia Bastianich’s NYC Becco restaurant again in 2016. They’d a wonderful dinner particular with starters and all-you-can-eat pastas of the day, and I actually bought my cash’s price! I went again a number of instances – I simply love Lidia, I at all times have, since manner again when her TV reveals first aired in Australia.
Right here in Sydney, I really feel like I’ve seen Vodka pasta just lately on the menu of among the extra fashionable internal metropolis and fringe Italian eating places (any readers assist me out right here??) however I used to be swayed in different instructions by different choices. A lot nice pasta on the market, so little time! 😭
In arising with my recipe, I largely referenced by trusted sources – (predictably) NYT Cooking, Ina Garten, Lidia Bastianich, Critical Eats and America’s Check Kitchen.
Opinions on the portions differ however typically the substances embrace tomato (canned and/or crushed or passata), cream, vodka (gasp!😆), parmesan, onion and garlic. To get depth of tomato flavour from canned tomato, it’s worthwhile to cook dinner it down ~quarter-hour, and the sourness varies relying on the standard you employ (economical tomatoes are bitter, even generally inexperienced un-ripe lumps!).
Whereas Critical Eats likes the contemporary notes from canned tomatoes, I used to be pleased with brightness the sauce will get from vodka (particularly as I add it in the direction of the top – the sooner you add it, the much less flavour you get) so I solely used tomato paste.
The one factor I do this doesn’t appear to be normal is to cook dinner off the tomato paste which improves the flavour, takes some (however not all) the bitter edge off (some is sweet, to chop via the richness of the cream) and likewise ranges the enjoying area between common tomato paste and pricier double-concentrate.
Truthfully although, this was not a tough recipe to develop, it’s a regular tomato-cream pasta sauce with the magic contact of vodka. A lot of it comes down to private style – how tomatoey would you like it, how silky (giant onion lumps bothered me, so I do insist on fantastic dicing), how boozy (I don’t like harsh vodka flavour, however I need a trace of floral notes else there’s no level?).
I had a number of goes myself then made it for the crew for lunch, and based mostly on their response it was a simple determination to share the recipe with you!
To be trustworthy, this was a reasonably simple recipe so I didn’t actually need to seek the advice of with JB. I made it to get his opinion – I used to be significantly whether or not he thought it was missing brighter tomato notes as a result of I solely used tomato paste – and he actually preferred it because it was, aside from a minor adjustment for the quantity of salt.
So then JB made it to double examine – we have now a strict rule that no recipe goes out with out each of us making it independently, irrespective of how easy or troublesome the recipe – then I filmed and photographed it, then revealed it at this time!
Watch the best way to make it
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Penne alla Vodka
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook dinner: 15 minutes
Complete: 20 minutes
Primary
American-Italian, Italian
Servings4 – 5 folks
Faucet or hover to scale
Components
- 500g / 1 lb penne or ziti (rigatoni can also be a favorite, else every other pasta)
- 2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt , for pasta cooking water
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 small onion , finely diced (smaller cube than standard is healthier)
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1/2 cup (140g / 4.5 oz) tomato paste (UK: tomato puree)
- 1 1/4 cups heavy / thickened cream (UK, use whipping cream – Word 2)
- 1/3 cup vodka , or hen inventory/broth for alcohol free (Word 3)
- 1/2 tsp crimson pepper flakes (chilli flakes), 100% elective
- 3/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for desk salt)
- Pinch black pepper
- 50g / 1 loosely packed cup freshly grated parmesan , plus extra for serving (Word 4)
- 1/2 cup+ pasta cooking water (Word 5)
- 2 tsp parsley , finely chopped, for serving (elective)
Forestall display from sleeping
Directions
ABBREVIATED:
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Sauté garlic and onion, cook dinner off tomato paste, simmer with cream, vodka, chilli flakes, S&P 3 min, stir in parmesan at finish. Toss with pasta and 1/2 cup pasta water, eat!
FULL RECIPE:
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Cook dinner pasta – Deliver a big pot of water to the boil with the pasta salt. Cook dinner pasta per the packet instructions till al dente. (In the meantime cook dinner the sauce)
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⭐️ Reserve pasta water – Simply earlier than draining, give the pasta an enormous stir to agitate the starch then scoop out a cup of the water. Then drain the pasta.
Vodka sauce:
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Sauté – Warmth the oil in a big pot or non-stick pan over medium excessive warmth. Cook dinner the onion and garlic for 1 1/2 minutes till translucent. Add the tomato paste and cook dinner, stirring always, for two minutes till it darkens in color (decrease warmth if catching on base).
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Make sauce – Add the cream, stir effectively to dissolve the tomato paste. Then add the chilli flakes, salt, pepper and vodka. Simmer on low for 3 minutes, stirring repeatedly. Stir within the parmesan till melted, then flip off the warmth till the pasta is prepared.
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Toss! Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Over medium warmth on the range, stir for 1 – 1 1/2 minutes till all of the pasta is properly coated with the rust colored sauce, utilizing further pasta cooking water to loosen if wanted.
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Serve instantly in warmed pasta bowls* with a dusting of additional parmesan and pinch of parsley. Add a aspect of garlic bread and huge Italian Salad, then end with Tiramisu for a traditional trattoria meal at house!
Recipe Notes:
2. Cream – I hardly ever say this, however low fats cream will work fairly effectively right here I feel, the tomato paste thickens the sauce.
UK – Your whipping cream (unwhipped!) is like our thickened cream in Australia. Single cream works too – the parmesan and pasta water will thicken it.
3. Vodka – Like wine in cooking, vodka provides depth and complexity with out leaving an alcoholic style. You may swap it with a impartial gin or deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup dry white wine after the tomato paste. For alcohol-free, use hen inventory – it gained’t give the identical flavour however provides depth. With out, the sauce could be flat.
Cooking for youths? Add the vodka earlier than the tomato paste and simmer to scale back by half to cook dinner out the alcohol extra totally.
4. Freshly grated parmesan – Use a fantastic grater like a microplane and keep away from pre-grated, which doesn’t soften easily and may make sauces grainy. 1 cup of parmesan might sound like alot but it surely’s not, it’s solely a small 50g/1.75oz piece ((~4cm/1.6″ dice) which will increase massively in quantity when finely shredded.
5. Pasta cooking water – key for pasta cooking! It will increase the sauce quantity so it’s not overly wealthy, and helps it cling to the pasta as an alternative of pooling. The starch in pasta water emulsifies with the sauce’s fats, naturally thickening it. Cooking science at work!
* I like to make use of warmed pasta bowls because it prolongs the lifetime of creamy pastas (30 seconds on excessive within the microwave for 1 bowl, 1 minute for 4 bowls).
Leftovers – Retains 3 to 4 days within the fridge, really retains higher than most creamy pastas as a result of the sauce is thicker. Microwave reheating is greatest, give it a superb stir and splash of water if wanted to loosen.
Diet per serving assuming 5 servings, scale back by 95 cal per serving in case you use low fats cream as an alternative (see Word 2).
Diet Data:
Energy: 693cal (35%)Carbohydrates: 78g (26%)Protein: 19g (38%)Fats: 30g (46%)Saturated Fats: 16g (100%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 9gLdl cholesterol: 74mg (25%)Sodium: 1465mg (64%)Potassium: 314mg (9%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 1016IU (20%)Vitamin C: 2mg (2%)Calcium: 185mg (19%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Lifetime of Dozer
Dozer spends quite a lot of time sleeping underneath the desk – so I spend quite a lot of time underneath there too. 🙂
