It’s sooo good. And don’t worry about the vodka, all of the alcohol cooks out, so this one is family friendly too. So the next time that pasta craving hits, give this restaurant favorite a try in your kitchen! Pasta nights are always a hit. From quick and simple dishes to more time consuming affairs, pasta dishes are always sure to please. Now this Penne alla Vodka is a bit unique. You have your usual red sauces like Marinara and Ragu. And of course you have your white Alfredo. But Vodka sauce is pink. A simple mixture of the two? Not quite. This one requires a secret ingredient and a little science…
What is Vodka Sauce?
Though the exact origins are debated, Vodka Sauce is a pink pasta sauce that gained popularity in the 1980’s. It features a unique combination of tomato and cream. Generally, these two ingredients are not used together, as the acidity from the tomatoes causes the oil in the cream to separate. That’s where the vodka come in… The ethanol in the vodka acts as an emulsifier, allowing everything to combine together nicely. Yup, science. It’s worth noting, the alcohol boils out of the sauce, so no need to worry about getting tipsy!
Why You’ll Love This
Comfort food at its finest: With its creamy tomato sauce coating the pasta noodles, it’s a great pasta night meal. Simple ingredients: A handful of simple ingredients come together to create this great pasta dish. Easy to make: Don’t let the elegant name fool you. Making penne alla vodka at home is surprisingly easy. It’s the perfect dish to impress your friends and family without spending all day in the kitchen. Versatility: You can totally make this pasta your own. Want to add some protein? Toss in some grilled chicken or shrimp. Want to spice it up? Add more red pepper flakes. Or, add in some veggies for added nutrition and bulk. Great for leftovers: As if all the above isn’t enough, penne alla vodka tastes even better the next day! The flavors meld and deepen, making your leftover lunch something to look forward to.
Ingredients
Penne pasta – The traditional accompaniment to vodka sauce. Olive oil Tomato – Whole canned, as well as tomato paste. Onion Flavor enhancers – Garlic and red chili flakes. Heavy cream Vodka – For that emulsifying magic. Parmesan cheese – In the sauce, and as garnish. Fresh basil – To garnish.
Penne alla Vodka Recipe
Start by heating the olive oil in a skillet or sauce pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté till it becomes translucent. Next, add in garlic and red chili flakes and cook another minute or two. Break the tomatoes up into small pieces with your hand in a bowl. Add them to the pan, along with tomato paste and vodka. Simmer till the tomatoes break down, about 25-30 minutes. TIP: Do not use diced tomatoes thinking that they will break down faster and speed things up. They are chemically treated to hold their shape. Stir in cream and shredded parmesan cheese. Cook 5-10 more minutes. While the sauce is simmering, boil the penne in salted water according to the directions on the package to al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. Toss the pasta into the sauce. Mix well. Cook for a few minutes, till everything is well incorporated. If you prefer the dish a little runnier, add in a bit of pasta water. Serve and garnish with freshly shredded parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Optional Add Ins
Protein: Penne alla Vodka is a great option for a simple meatless main. That being said, you can surely add in some grilled or sautéed chicken. Shrimp also goes great in there. Veggies: We also love to bulk it up with some added veggies. Some of our top contenders are mushrooms, bell peppers, and asparagus. Roast or sauté the veggies before adding them to the final dish. Like some kick on your plate? Try Gigi Hadid Pasta, a spicier version of vodka pasta!
Serving Suggestions
As with any pasta, a side of good crusty bread is always welcome. Our No Knead Bread fits the bill perfectly. A nice salad is great too. Classic Caesar or Antipasto can really add to your pasta night. We also love Greek Horiatiki Salad alongside our vodka pasta. If not adding directly to the dish, you can serve grilled or baked chicken on the side. Or some green veggies like Roasted Asparagus or Broccoli. And wine. That too. 😉
Leftovers and Storage
Penne alla Vodka is great as leftovers. Refrigerate in an airtight container for 4-5 days (only 2-3 if adding shrimp) in an airtight container. Reheat on stovetop over medium heat, or in the microwave. If the dish has dried out a bit, you can add in a splash of olive oil or water while reheating. We do not recommend freezing this dish, as the cream may separate from the sauce. Give our easy yet delicious penne alla vodka a try. It’s the perfect marriage of tomato sauce and cream, thanks to that special ingredient. Try it alone, or with some add ins. You’re in for a great pasta dinner either way! Pin or bookmark this great recipe so you always know where to find it. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up great new recipes for you!
Penne alla Vodka, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other creamy pasta dishes!Creamy Ground Chicken PastaCreamy Salmon PastaJambalaya PastaFettuccine AlfredoTortellini al FornoCajun Chicken PastaRasta PastaTaco Pasta
title: “Penne Alla Vodka” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-05” author: “John Espino”
Pasta dinners are one of our go-to staples as they’re always so easy to make and everybody loves them! As well as being nutritious, our Roasted Red Pepper Sauce is packed with flavor from home-roasted peppers, and our Bolognese Sauce Recipe is a traditional classic that is worth the extra effort. Vodka in a tomato pasta sauce. Who would’ve thought this combination would be so good?! The flavor of this Penne Alla Vodka recipe really amazes me. Not only is it rich and creamy, but it has this extra bite to it thanks to the vodka and crushed red pepper flakes. But doesn’t that mean there’s alcohol in your food? I hear you! Cooking with alcohol like vodka in Penne alla Vodka, or using marsala wine in Chicken Marsala is absolutely fine by us as a non-alcoholic household, as the alcohol is cooked out when heated up. Plus, any leftover vodka can be used to top up our Homemade Vanilla Extract, which really means…baking more cookies! Win-win I think! But back to this Penne alla Vodka recipe. It’s ready in just 25 minutes, and my whole family loves to dig into it. And it’s a great change from the same old marinara sauce. Nothing against marinara sauce, but vodka sauce is like it’s more exotic, creamier cousin and makes the meal feel special and different. I used penne pasta as it is the classic pasta shape to use for Penne alla Vodka, but feel free to use any pasta you have on hand. The sauce makes for great leftovers throughout the week and can be frozen as well, so feel free to double batch it for later!
Ingredients for Penne alla Vodka
Penne pasta: It’s all in the name, penne pasta is needed for Penne alla Vodka! I cooked the penne in salted water until al dente, according to package directions. Save some of the pasta water before draining it! You’ll need it for the vodka sauce!Butter and olive oil: Butter is added for flavor, however it can brown and burn quickly so I add olive oil as well which keeps the butter from burning.Sweet yellow onion and garlic: Lots of lovely onion and garlic flavor goes into this simple vodka pasta sauce.Tomatoes: I used both tomato paste and canned crushed tomatoes to achieve a rich, tomato flavor without hours of simmering!Crushed red pepper flakes: This is optional but super delicious! You can also add this at the end if some of your family aren’t into spicy food.Seasoning: Oregano, salt, and ground black pepper balance all of the flavors as well as adding an extra Italian herbiness.Vodka: Sounds like a bit of a strange ingredient to add to pasta sauce, but the flavor of Penne alla Vodka is great! And not to worry, the alcohol content cooks off, so it’s perfectly fine for people who don’t drink.Heavy cream: We’re just missing some richness so I added heavy cream. It also thins the sauce out perfectly so it can get in all of the penne pasta’s nooks and crannies.Garnishes: Just a couple of simple toppings to round off this Penne Alla Vodka recipe: freshly grated parmesan, and fresh basil, thinly sliced. These are entirely optional but so good!
How to Make Homemade Penne Alla Vodka
Freezing and Storage Instructions
Store this Penne alla Vodka pasta in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. To reheat it, either heat it thoroughly in a pot on the stove, or heat it in an oven-safe dish in the oven, covered with foil for about 20 minutes at 360°F/180°C. You can also freeze the vodka sauce before adding it to the pasta. When you want to use it, just thaw in a pot and warm, adding cooked pasta and tossing together before serving.
Is there alcohol in Penne Alla Vodka?
Yes, real Penne Alla Vodka does call for vodka. I’m not an alcohol expert by any means since we don’t actually drink it, but I do cook with it and the moderately priced stuff from Costco or the liquor aisle of our grocery store works just great. As long as you don’t forget and add the vodka right at the end of the cooking process, the alcohol is cooked out with heat and it evaporates. This is a similar process to some of my recipes that use wine like Easy Creamy Chicken Marsala, Chicken Madeira, and my Best Bolognese Sauce Recipe.
What kind of vodka should I use?
Any vodka is absolutely fine to use! We tend to buy the cheaper, bottom-shelf stuff as we’re cooking with it and not drinking it. You can find it in many different sizes in the supermarket or liquor store, and if you just want to use it in this recipe, the smaller 35cl bottle will be perfect as we only need a ½ cup.
I have vodka leftover. What should I do with it?
We like to keep a bottle of vodka on the top shelf of our pantry to use again in dishes like this Penne Alla Vodka, but it’s also great to have on hand to refill my Homemade Vanilla Extract bottles. You can even use vodka in your pie crust! Alcohol is also excellent to use on cuts and wounds the need to be cleaned!
More Pasta Recipes Like This
Chicken Fettuccine AlfredoCopycat Costco Mac and CheeseChicken Spaghetti CasseroleClassic Homemade Marinara SauceMozzarella Stuffed MeatballsThe Best Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
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