Description
A delicious and spicy vodka pasta that ignites your taste buds with its creamy sauce and flavorful ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or more for extra heat)
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for decoration
Instructions
- Begin by boiling a large pot of salted water and cook the penne pasta until it reaches an al dente texture, following the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta, making sure to save about 1/2 cup of the starchy water for later use.
- In a spacious skillet, warm the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and crushed red pepper, cooking for approximately 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant and slightly golden.
- Next, incorporate the diced tomatoes along with the vodka, sea salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly and let the mixture simmer for roughly 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Lower the heat and gently stir in the heavy whipping cream, allowing the sauce to simmer for an additional 5 minutes while stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Introduce the drained penne pasta into the skillet, tossing it well to ensure every piece is coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce appears too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water until you achieve your preferred consistency.
- Finally, fold in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts and integrates seamlessly into the sauce.
- Serve the dish warm, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese if you like.
Notes
- For a vegetarian twist, consider adding sautéed zucchini or bell peppers to enhance the dish’s flavor and nutrition.
- To elevate the heat level, feel free to increase the crushed red pepper or drizzle a bit of your favorite hot sauce just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg