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penne alla vodka

smalltownwoman avatar
Recipe by
Beth Pierce
@smalltownwoman
Ofallon, MO

Penne alla Vodka is penne pasta in a rich creamy slightly tangy tomato sauce with garlic, onions, crushed tomatoes and of course vodka. It is one of our favorite pasta dishes and you will be pleasantly surprised how well it all comes together. It is a hearty meal in itself but for a special Sunday meal or if company is coming I like to serve it with Italian Chopped Salad with Fresh Italian Dressing and Cheese Garlic Bread.

yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For penne alla vodka

  • 2 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1 md
    onion finely chopped
  • 3 clove
    garlic minced
  • 1/4 tsp
    crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 c
    vodka
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp
    tomato paste
  • 1 can
    whole tomatoes
  • 12 oz
    penne pasta
  • 2/3 c
    heavy whipping cream
  • 3/4 c
    grated parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
  • fresh chopped parsley

How To Make penne alla vodka

  • 1
    Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook 4-5 minutes or until soft; stirring several times. Add garlic and crushed red pepper: cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and carefully add the vodka. Stir in the tomato paste and add the tomatoes crushing with your hands as you add them. Simmer for 20 minutes stirring several times.
  • 2
    Meanwhile cook the pasta al dente according to the box instructions and drain well. Reduce heat on the sauce to very low and add the cream and the parmesan cheese. Add cooked pasta to the pan and stir to combine. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a little more grated Parmesan Cheese. Vodka is flammable so be very careful when adding it to the pan. Make sure to keep towels, loose clothing and your hair tied back. Sometimes if the air seems heavy when I am cooking with alcohol I will turn off the heat, very carefully add it to the pan so it does not drip down the sides, give it a couple of minutes for the alcohol fumes to dissipate and then turn the heat back on.
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