Spicy Vodka Pasta

Done in 20 minutes this flavor packed Spicy Vodka Pasta (or Penne alla Vodka) is a delicious tomato cream sauce. Made from common ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, heavy cream, and parsley this is the best vodka pasta recipe you will find.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian, North American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 507kcal

Author Emmeline Kemperyd

Equipment

Ingredients

3 cups dry penne pasta cooked 1 minute less than package instruction
2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
½ cup shallots chopped small; or red onion or yellow onion
1 garlic clove minced
2 tablespoon tomato paste
½ teaspoon chili flakes or more or less according to taste and type of chili flakes
3 cups tomatoes as ripe as possible; seeds removed, then chopped
¼ cup vodka see note below for substitutes
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chopped parsley
½ cup pasta cooking water
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, until shallots have softened. Meanwhile, salt the pasta water heavily and start cooking the pasta.
3 cups dry penne pasta, ½ cup shallots, 1 garlic clove, 2 tablespoon butter
Add tomato paste and chili flakes. Fry the tomato paste and chili flakes for 1 while mixing with the shallots & garlic.
2 tablespoon tomato paste, ½ teaspoon chili flakes
Add tomatoes and vodka. Cook for 1 minute to allow some of the alcohol to cook off.
3 cups tomatoes, ¼ cup vodka
Add cream, bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to keep that simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
1 cup heavy cream
Mix in chopped parsley.
½ cup chopped parsley
Drain the pasta and reserve some of the pasta cooking water.
Mix in pasta and pasta cooking water with the sauce. Taste test and season with salt and pepper as needed.
3 cups dry penne pasta, ½ cup pasta cooking water, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt
Simmer for 1 minute, then serve.

Video

Notes

Instead of vodka, you can use:

Another kind of neutral strong alcohol (for example, cachaca or light rum)
White wine
White cooking wine
Water

What to Do with Leftovers

Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheating stove top: Heat in a saucepan over medium-low heat, until heated through.
Reheating in a microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 1-minute increments, mixing between each segment.

Nutrition