Farfalle a la Vodka

By kimvess

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound applewood smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 cups finely chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 cup vodka
• One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/3 cup torn basil leaves
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound dried farfalle pasta
• Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 40mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and nearly crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and crushed red pepper, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Carefully add the vodka and cook, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add the tomatoes with their juices and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to break down, about 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer until reduced slightly, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the cream and peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the skillet along with the reserved cooking water and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the pasta is coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the pasta to bowls, sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve right away.