Vodka Pasta Recipe – Rachel Cooks®

I can’t blame you in case you all the time go over the penne alla vodka at your favourite Italian restaurant in favor of pastas loaded with veggies, meats, or Alfredo sauce. Vodka pasta seems fairly humble, in any case. And why add vodka to pasta sauce?! What does it even do?

Nicely, right here’s the news. The ethanol in vodka has the power to hold fragrant compounds. Since scent and style are intently intertwined, the truth that the aroma of vodka pasta is heightened means the style is simply too. The alcohol additionally retains the wealthy sauce emulsified and creamy which is why vodka sauce has such an irresistible velvety texture.

Creamy Vodka Pasta Recipe

A restaurant-style dinner at dwelling. I feel what I really like most about this recipe is the truth that it actually does style like a restaurant meal. Even higher, vodka sauce may be very easy which implies it’s achievable in any dwelling kitchen (with no jar!). You are able to do this!

Fast and straightforward. With solely 10 minutes of prep time and quarter-hour of cooking, this vodka pasta recipe is right for busy weeknights. You simply might need every thing you want already in your pantry and fridge as a result of the components are fairly fundamental. We examined this recipe a number of instances as a result of we actually needed to make it a one pot pasta recipe for you however that technique actually doesn’t work for this vodka pasta. That being stated, this isn’t a tough recipe.

Versatile. Vodka pasta can stand alone as a most important dish or you’ll be able to pair it with roasted broccoli or sliced air fryer Italian sausage. Maintain studying for extra concepts.

Ingredient Notes

• Pasta: Penne pasta is the basic for pairing with vodka sauce however you should utilize any form you want. Simply ensure you purchase a top quality pasta. It actually does make a distinction!
• Onion and Garlic: The sauce is flavored with these two aromatics. A yellow cooking onion is ideal and I all the time use contemporary garlic for the perfect taste. You’ll want a little bit of olive oil to sauté the onion which must be very finely diced. This sauce must be {smooth}, not with chunky bits of greens.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: You possibly can alter the quantity to your liking. Spicy vodka sauce is sort of good!
• Vodka: No want for something pricy however when cooking with alcohol, I attempt to keep away from the most cost effective possibility too. One or two steps above the most cost effective is often my candy spot. This recipe can be an effective way to make use of that vodka to procure for a particular drink recipe greater than a 12 months in the past (so long as it’s plain vodka, not flavored!).
• Tomato Paste: As a substitute of the same old canned tomatoes, vodka sauce is made with tomato paste for wealthy, concentrated tomato taste.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is crucial for creamy, silky-smooth pasta sauce.
• Butter: A pair tablespoons of butter melted in on the finish of the cooking time additionally contributes to the velvety richness of this vodka pasta recipe.
• Parmesan Cheese: Shredding your personal is a should! The shop-bought shredded cheese doesn’t soften as easily.
• Contemporary Basil or Parsley: Typically a garnish is optionally available however for this recipe, a handful of freshly chopped herbs is important to stability the richness of the sauce. I favor basil but when it isn’t obtainable, flat leaf parsley can stand as an alternative.

Find out how to make This Vodka Pasta Recipe

Cook dinner the pasta. Carry a big pot of salted water to a boil and prepare dinner the pasta in response to the bundle directions. When the pasta is al dente, scoop out a cup of the cooking water and set it apart, then drain the pasta in a colander over the sink.

Sauté the onions. Whereas the pasta cooks, warmth the olive oil in a big skillet set over medium warmth. Ensure you select a skillet that’s massive sufficient to accommodate the pasta which can be stirred into the sauce on the finish of the cooking time. Add the onions and salt to the oil, and prepare dinner for 3 to 4 minutes, or till the onions are softened. If they start to brown, flip down the warmth.

Add tomato paste, garlic, purple pepper. Stir within the can of tomato paste, finely minced garlic, and purple pepper flakes to the skillet; prepare dinner, stirring always, for a minute or till the garlic is aromatic.

Add vodka and cream. Pour the vodka into the pan and simmer for two to three minutes, or till barely diminished. In the meantime, heat the cream within the microwave for 30 seconds whereas the sauce simmers. Scale back the warmth to low (necessary!) and slowly stir within the cream.

Add cooked pasta to the pan. Stir the pasta into the sauce, folding it in till it’s coated with sauce. Slowly add the pasta cooking water, just a little bit at a time, as wanted to skinny the sauce. I often stir in a few quarter-cupful however you might determine so as to add roughly.

Stir in butter and cheese. Over low warmth, add the butter and shredded Parmesan cheese. Strive to not dump the cheese in all of sudden; it’s higher in case you add it considerably slowly. As soon as the butter and cheese are melted and included into the sauce, the pasta is able to serve.

Serve. Vodka pasta is finest served instantly. Scoop every serving right into a shallow pasta bowl and garnish with contemporary basil or parsley. Further shredded Parmesan cheese is all the time welcome, too.

Recipe Suggestions

Cook dinner the pasta to al dente. You need the pasta to have a chunk to it, not be tender and mushy. Keep in mind, it can prepare dinner just a little bit extra while you toss it with the sauce.

Don’t overlook to avoid wasting the pasta water. The starches that come out of the pasta because it cooks assist thicken and bind the sauce, so it’s not the identical as merely including plain water to the skillet.

Use an even bigger skillet than you assume you want. Keep in mind, you’ll be including the pasta to it too! You need loads of room for stirring and tossing this vodka pasta recipe with out making a large number in your stovetop. I hate to inform you what number of instances I’ve chosen the fallacious measurement pan after which I’ve to make one other pan soiled. Ugh!

Serving Concepts

Refrigerate/Freeze: Switch leftovers from this vodka pasta recipe to an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 3 to 4 days. You may as well freeze vodka sauce (with out the pasta) for as much as six months in a freezer-safe container.

Reheat: Add the pasta to a skillet over medium warmth, including a splash of water or heavy cream to revive its creamy consistency. Stir continuously till heated by means of. You may as well reheat within the microwave in case you favor.

Cook dinner ModeStop your display from going darkish

• Cook dinner the pasta in response to the bundle directions in a big pot of salted boiling water. Reserve roughly 1 cup of the cooking water earlier than draining the pasta and put aside.

  16 oz. penne

• In the meantime, in a big skillet, warmth olive oil over medium warmth. Add chopped onion and salt; prepare dinner till softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.

  2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ cup finely chopped onion, ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• Add tomato paste, minced garlic and purple pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for a further minute, stirring always, till the garlic turns into aromatic.

  ¾ cup tomato paste, 3 cloves garlic, minced, ¼ teaspoon purple pepper flakes, or extra to style

• Pour within the vodka, and let combination simmer for two to three minutes till barely diminished, stirring continuously.

  ¼ cup vodka

• In the meantime, warmth cream in microwave for 30 seconds. Flip warmth to low (necessary!) and slowly add the cream to the skillet, stirring properly.

  1 cup heavy cream

• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir, tossing to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Add pasta water as wanted to skinny sauce (we sometimes add about ¼ cup or much less). Stir in butter and parmesan cheese till each soften.

  2 tablespoons butter, ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, extra for serving

• Serve instantly, garnished with contemporary basil or parsley and extra shredded Parmesan cheese.

• Vitamin data consists of sauce and pasta.
• Storage: Leftovers might be refrigerated for as much as 3 to 4 days. You may as well freeze vodka sauce (with out the pasta) for as much as six months. Reheat pasta in a skillet over medium warmth, including a splash of water or heavy cream if mandatory, stirring continuously. Single servings might be reheated within the microwave.

Energy: 580kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 16g, Fats: 26g, Saturated Fats: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 9g, Trans Fats: 0.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 634mg, Potassium: 574mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 1289IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 160mg, Iron: 2mg

Vitamin data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

Share a remark and ranking beneath! I really like listening to what you assume!