5.0 from 12 votes
Pasta with Vodka Sauce
Creamy vodka sauce builds flavor on flavor with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and pepper. Use it to level up any of your go-to Italian recipes!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 760 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 16 oz rigatoni pasta or penne
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4.5 oz tomato paste (See Note 1)
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
- fresh basil to garnish
- grated Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta for 11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, set aside and start the sauce.
- Heat the oil over medium high heat in a skillet and sauté the onion for for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, kosher salt and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook another 2 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and stir, scraping up browned bits. Cook this for 5 more minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vodka, stirring constantly and then add the heavy cream. Stir until smooth and creamy. The sauce with be a bright orange. Season to taste.
- Drain pasta, but do not rinse it. Put it back into the large pot with the reserved cup of pasta water and pour vodka sauce on top. Stir to coat and simmer for a few minutes, or until sauce thickens and is shiny and emulsified.
- Serve immediately with basil leaves to garnish and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Look for the double concentrated tomato paste in a tube as opposed to the single version in the small cans.
Nutrition Information
Calories
760kcal
(38%)
Carbohydrates
96g
(32%)
Protein
18g
(36%)
Fat
30g
(46%)
Saturated Fat
15g
(75%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
11g
Cholesterol
67mg
(22%)
Sodium
281mg
(12%)
Potassium
690mg
(20%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
10g
(20%)
Vitamin A
1436IU
(29%)
Vitamin C
10mg
(11%)
Calcium
87mg
(9%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 760
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 760kcal | 38% |
| Carbohydrates | 96g | 32% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 281mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 690mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 1436IU | 29% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 87mg | 9% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.