Penne Alla Vodka Recipe
Penne pasta with cream, tomato sauce, basil oil, chili flakes, spinach & grated Parmesan
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Finishing touches
Method
Cooking the pasta
- 1
Cook the Penne
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes.
- 2
Once cooked, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Making the sauce
- 3
Sauté Garlic
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 4
Add Chili Flakes
Add the crushed red chili flakes and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- 5
Add Vodka
Pour in the vodka, stirring to combine. Let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes until the alcohol has mostly evaporated.
- 6
Add Tomatoes
Stir in the crushed tomatoes and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let cook for about 5 minutes.
- 7
Incorporate Cream
Lower the heat and add the heavy cream, mixing well. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Allow the sauce to simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
Combining
- 8
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked penne pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- 9
Add Spinach
Fold in the chopped spinach and allow it to wilt in the heat of the sauce, about 1-2 minutes.
Serving
- 10
Finish and Serve
Drizzle with fresh basil oil and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top before serving.
- 11
Serve hot, garnished with additional basil oil and Parmesan if desired.