Penne Alla Vodka Recipe
Small tube pasta with a vodka, parmigiano, and cream sauce
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Method
Cooking the Pasta
- 1
Boil Water
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
- 2
Add Salt
Once the water is boiling, add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water.
- 3
Cook Penne
Add 12 oz of penne pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually around 10-12 minutes.
- 4
Drain Pasta
Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander.
Making the Sauce
- 5
Heat Olive Oil
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
- 6
Sauté Garlic
Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- 7
Add Vodka
Pour in 1 cup of vodka and allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 8
Add Cream
Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- 9
Mix in Cheese and Season
Add 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 0.5 tsp of salt, and 0.5 tsp of freshly ground black pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
Combining Pasta and Sauce
- 10
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the drained penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, use reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- 11
Serve
Serve the Penne alla Vodka hot, garnished with chopped fresh basil.
