Name: Penne Alla Vodka
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; ½ medium yellow onion (chopped); 3 garlic cloves (thinly sliced); ½ teaspoon sea salt; Freshly ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste; ¼ cup vodka (see note*); 1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes (crushed); 1 pound tube-shaped pasta (such as penne or rigatoni); ½ cup heavy cream; Chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil leaves (for garnish); Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Penne Alla Vodka

You don't need to go to a restaurant to get great penne alla vodka—this recipe is easy to make at home! It stars a delicious homemade vodka sauce that's creamy, silky, and packed with rich tomato flavor. The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes, so it's perfect for weeknights.

30 min total 5 min prep 25 min cook 6

Instructions

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1 Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, and several grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until softened.
2 Add the red pepper flakes and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until the tomato paste darkens. Stir in the vodka and let it cook down for 1 minute.
3 Add the crushed tomatoes and their juices and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
4 Allow the sauce to cool slightly, then transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.
5 Meanwhile, cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions, cooking until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
6 Return the blended sauce to the skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the cream, followed by ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Add the pasta and stir to coat, adding more pasta water as needed to fully coat the pasta in a lightly creamy, glossy sauce.
7 Season to taste and serve topped with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.