This classic Italian pasta dish features penne pasta coated in a creamy, tomato-based vodka sauce. The sauce is made with onions, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, tomato paste, heavy cream, and of course, vodka, which gives the dish a distinctive flavor. This easy and flavorful pasta dish can be made in under 30 minutes.
Penne with Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound of penne pasta
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1/2 cup of vodka
- 1 can of crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, chopped, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil to the skillet and heat until shimmering.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the tomato paste to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until it has darkened in color.
- Add the vodka to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until it has reduced by half.
- Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reserve some of the pasta cooking water and drain the penne pasta.
- Add the cooked penne to the skillet with the sauce and toss to combine.
- If the sauce seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet to loosen it up.
- Serve the penne with vodka sauce hot, garnished with fresh chopped basil, if desired.
