Penne alla vodka is hands down my wife’s favorite sauce for pasta. When we first moved to New York and she was looking for a job, we were on an tight budget. Like counting pennies kind of budget and pasta was always on the menu. And that pasta had to be drenched in vodka sauce. So this penne alla vodka sauce recipe comes from those times. Although we are not on such a tight budget now, penne alla vodka is a frequent menu item in our household.
Does penne alla vodka really have vodka?
I can’t be the only one that wondered this at some point, so I figured I would address. The answer is yes! It does contain vodka, but it is cooked down so that the alcohol is cooked away.
Isn’t it easier just to buy vodka sauce already made?
The short answer is yes. Everything is easier if it is bought pre-made. But is it authentic and made with love? No! So, don’t be afraid to slap that apron on, pull out a pot, boil some water for pasta, and make some vodka sauce!
What type of pasta should I use?
Good question. Now traditionally this is made with penne, hence the name penne alla vodka. Now I know some people are very picky when it comes to their pasta, so feel free to use whichever pasta you would like, and drench it in this vodka sauce recipe.
How do I make this penne alla vodka recipe?
- Make your pasta: First things first, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta as directed by the packaging.
- Make your sauce: Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a saute pan, and heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add your diced onions and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant. While the onions and garlic are cooking, puree your tomatoes in a blender. Once the onions and garlic are done cooking, add your vodka and reduce it for about 2-3 minutes, until you can no longer smell the alcohol. After, add your pureed tomatoes and reduce the heat to low, and bring it to a simmer. Next, add the heavy cream, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture back to a simmer and finally add your last tablespoon of butter.
- Serve: Combine your pasta with your vodka sauce and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 box of penne
- 1 tbbsp of olive oil
- 3 tbsp of butter
- 1 cup of onions diced
- 3 cloves of garlic diced
- ½ cup of vodka
- 1 32 oz can of whole tomatoes
- ½ cup of heavy cream
- 1 tsp of salt
- ½ tsp of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta as directed by the packaging.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a saute pan and heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add your diced onions and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- While the onions and garlic are cooking, puree your tomatoes in a blender.
- Once the onions and garlic are done cooking, add your vodka and reduce the vodka for about 2-3 minutes, until you can no longer smell the alcohol.
- After, add your pureed tomatoes and reduce the heat to low, and bring it to a simmer.
- Next, add the heavy cream, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture back to a simmer and finally add your last tablespoon of butter. Once the butter is melted, remove the sauce from the heat.
- Combine your pasta with your vodka sauce and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy!
