Creamy Tomato Basil Penne alla Vodka

Creamy Tomato Basil Penne alla Vodka

A classic Italian-American comfort food dish featuring penne pasta in a rich, creamy tomato sauce infused with vodka and fresh basil.

By RecipeBoss
Servings
4
Time Required
30 min

Ingredients

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1 lb penne pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
4 clove garlic
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
½ cup vodka
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup fresh basil leaves
1 pinch salt
1 pinch black pepper

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

  2. 2

    While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  3. 3

    Add vodka to the skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

    3 min

  4. 4

    Stir in crushed tomatoes, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes.

    10 min

  5. 5

    Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and black pepper.

  6. 6

    Add the drained pasta and chopped fresh basil to the sauce. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.

  7. 7

    Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan if desired.

Perfect With

Garlic BreadSimple Green SaladRoasted Asparagus