Penne alla Vodka

4.7

(3)

3 Reviews

While some vodka sauce recipes lean on the creamy side, this version is more tomato-forward, loaded with bits of broken-down tomatoes and onion. The tomatoes are cooked for nearly an hour before the cream is added, concentrating their deep umami flavor. Vodka enhances the flavor of the tomatoes, and crushed red pepper adds just a hint of heat to balance out the richness of the sauce. Reserve some of the cooking water from the pasta to help achieve the perfect consistency in this sauce.

By

Jasmine Smith

Updated on August 2, 2023

Tested by

Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Penne Alla Vodka — Photo: Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

Active Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 15 mins

Servings:

6

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium-size (8 oz.) yellow onions, finely chopped (3 cups)
2 tablespoons minced garlic (from 6 garlic cloves)
¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup (8 oz.) vodka
2 (28-oz.) cans whole peeled plum tomatoes with juices, tomatoes finely crushed by hand
1 pound uncooked penne
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated on a Microplane grater (about 1 2/3 cups), divided

Directions

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and light golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add vodka, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and juices; bring to a boil over medium. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and sauce thickens enough that a spoon leaves a path when drawn across the bottom of the pot, 50 to 55 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
Add cream, salt, black pepper, and 2 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) of the cheese to tomato mixture in Dutch oven; stir until combined and cheese is fully melted. Add cooked pasta; toss to coat in sauce. Mix in reserved pasta cooking water 1/4 cup at a time to desired consistency.
Divide pasta evenly among 6 bowls; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2-ounce (about 1/3 cup) cheese.

Penne alla Vodka

Ingredients

Directions

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