Cavatappi Alla Vodka Recipe
Sauteed red onion, mushroom, tomato, served in Vodka sauce with cavatappi.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Vegetables & Aromatics
Sauce
Finishing & Seasoning
Method
Pasta
- 1
Cook pasta
Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt and the 12 oz cavatappi. Cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 9–11 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 2
Prep vegetables
Peel and cut the red onion into thin half-moons. Wipe mushrooms clean and slice them about 1/4-inch thick. Core and dice the roma tomatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Mince the garlic cloves.
- 3
Sauté onion and mushrooms
Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter foams, add the sliced red onion and a pinch of salt. Sauté 4–5 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook 5–6 minutes more until they release their liquid and it's mostly evaporated and the mushrooms are golden.
- 4
Add garlic and tomato
Reduce heat to medium, push vegetables to the side, add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the diced roma tomatoes and cook 2–3 minutes, stirring, until they begin to soften and break down. Stir everything together.
Sauce
- 5
- 6
Build the sauce
Stir in 2 Tbsp tomato paste and cook 1 minute to cook off the raw edge. Add the 14 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1 tsp sugar. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently 6–8 minutes to thicken slightly.
- 7
Finish with cream
Lower heat to medium-low and stir in 1 cup heavy cream until incorporated and the sauce turns a uniform pink/orange color. Taste and add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to preference. Simmer 2–3 minutes more; do not boil vigorously after adding cream.
Combine & Finish
- 8
Combine pasta and sauce
Add the drained cavatappi to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time as needed to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta (use up to 1/2 cup). Cook together 1–2 minutes so the pasta absorbs some sauce.
- 9
- 10
Serve
Divide into 4 portions. Plate the cavatappi alla vodka, sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and torn basil leaves on top. Optionally add a pinch of red pepper flakes and freshly ground pepper to each bowl. Serve immediately.