Penne alla Vodka

By mz0926

From Cook's Country

June/July 2011


Why this recipe works:
Some classic vodka sauces simmer away for hours to build flavor. Discovering a faster approach, we exchange fresh tomatoes for a combination of assertive sun-dried tomatoes and convenient crushed ones, yielding a full-flavored homemade sauce in roughly the time it takes to cook the pasta.



Serves 4


Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed and chopped fine
1/2 cup vodka
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1 pound penne pasta
1/3 cup minced fresh basil
Instructions 1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Meanwhile, heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Off heat, add vodka. Bring sauce to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Off heat, stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and keep warm.
2. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Toss sauce and basil with pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Serve.



Related ContentRECIPE
Crispy Garlic Bread

Ingredients

• Serves 4
• Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed and chopped fine
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1/3 cup minced fresh basil

Preparation

Step 1

Instructions 1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Meanwhile, heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Off heat, add vodka. Bring sauce to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Off heat, stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and keep warm.
2. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Toss sauce and basil with pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Serve.