Pasta with Vodka Sauce (or Gin)
Created by novicecookmom on December 10, 2013
- Servings: 4
- Prep Time: 30m
- Cook Time: 15m
- Recipe #11457
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dry penne pasta (or ziti)
- 1 can (28 ounce) whole plum tomatoes (Italian tomatoes)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup yellow onion, finely chopped (1 small onion, or 2 shallots minced)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup vodka (or gin)
- 2/3 cup heavy cream (whipping cream, not half and half)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (plus more for topping)
- Fresh basil leaves, torn (a good handful, plus more for topping
How to Make
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Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the dry pasta and cook until aldente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta. Empty the tomatoes into a bowl and crush with your hands.
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Step 2: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion or shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and stir in the vodka or gin, tomatoes and salt to taste. Return the skillet to medium heat and simmer, stirring often, until the alcohol cooks off, about 7 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese and basil.
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Step 3: Add the pasta to the sauce and toss to combine, adding some of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed.
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Step 4: Season with salt.
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Step 5: Serve topped with more parmesan and basil.
Nutritional Facts
- Serving Size: 1 (371.9 g)
- Calories 572.4
- Total Fat - 18 g
- Saturated Fat - 10.2 g
- Cholesterol - 50.7 mg
- Sodium - 175.8 mg
- Total Carbohydrate - 78 g
- Dietary Fiber - 12.1 g
- Sugars - 5.8 g
- Protein - 12.7 g
- Calcium - 171.5 mg
- Iron - 1.4 mg
- Vitamin C - 28.2 mg
- Thiamin - 0.3 mg