Penne alla Vodka Recipe

User Reviews

5

2 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Total Time

    30 mins

  • Servings

    4 servings

  • Calories

    696 kcal

  • Course

    Dinner

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Penne alla Vodka Recipe

This penne alla vodka is my go-to when I want something easy, quick, yet restaurant-level delicious. I'll show you how to whip up this delicious, sophisticated sauce in just 30 minutes.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 12 ounces penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil more for the pasta
  • 1 medium onion minced
  • 3 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 28 ounce tomato see notes, whole, canned
  • cup vodka
  • ¾ cup whipping cream
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese plus extra for serving, or grana padano, grated
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • basil for serving, fresh

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the package directions. Drain the pasta, then put it back into the pot, drizzle it with some olive oil, and toss to coat.
  2. While the pasta cooks, start the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it turns translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, garlic, and chili flakes and cook for 1 minute more.
  3. Add the tomatoes and their liquid to the skillet, breaking up the whole tomatoes by hand. Add the vodka to the tomato can, swish it around, then pour it into the sauce.
  4. Let the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered, until the sauce thickens and most of the liquid has evaporated. Use an immersion blender (or transfer the sauce to a regular blender) and blend until it's mostly smooth. The sauce should be quite thick at this point. If it's not, simmer it a little longer.
  5. Add the whipping cream and parmesan and season to taste with salt and pepper - I like about one teaspoon of salt. Add the pasta to the sauce and simmer for 1 minute.
  6. Serve the pasta with extra parmesan and some fresh basil on top.

Notes

  • Note 1: I love using San Marzano tomatoes in this recipe, but they are pricey. Regular whole tomatoes work, too, but you'll likely want to add a pinch of sugar as they tend to be more acidic. 
  • Note 2: Diced tomatoes aren't ideal for this recipe, although they will work in a pinch if you don't want to run to the grocery store. Diced tomatoes are treated with a chemical that prevents them from breaking down, but since you'll blend them, they will work here.
  • Note 3: For the right consistency, make sure the sauce is quite thick before you add the whipping cream.
  • Note 4: Try adding minced basil to the sauce - it's a tasty variation!
  • Note 5: This is quite saucy - which is just how I love it. But for a less saucy version, feel free to make this with up to 16 ounces of penne.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1 = ¼ of the recipe Calories 696kcal (35%) Carbohydrates 77g (26%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 59mg (20%) Sodium 507mg (21%) Potassium 671mg (14%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 1061IU (21%) Vitamin C 21mg (23%) Calcium 268mg (27%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 696 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 = ¼ of the recipe
Calories 696kcal 35%
Carbohydrates 77g 26%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 507mg 21%
Potassium 671mg 14%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 1061IU 21%
Vitamin C 21mg 23%
Calcium 268mg 27%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5

2 reviews
Excellent

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