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Penne Alla Vodka

This penne alla vodka uses both whole tomatoes and tomato paste along with a splash of cream to make a vodka sauce with plenty of depth. The defining detail in this recipe is adding the zest of a lemon to the vodka. It lends a fragrant brightness to the whole preparation, making this family favorite extra special.

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What Makes a Great
Penne Alla Vodka?

If you want to make great penne alla vodka, focus on the sauce. There are a number of ways to approach this Italian (and Italian-American) classic, popular in the 1980s. You’ll see versions made with canned tomatoes, while others exclusively use tomato paste. Some recipes call for a lot of tomatoes, others barely any. Some really go for it with heavy cream, I like to use just enough cream to create a rich, silky sauce without diluting the tomato flavor excessively. This recipe delivers a bright, rich tomato vodka sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta. The flavor has dimension from the two types of tomatoes used, and the scent (and bursts) of lemon zest.




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Ingredients







Instructions

  1. Combine the lemon and vodka in a small cup and set aside.
  2. Place the canned whole tomatoes (and juices) in a medium bowl and puree with a hand blender. Set aside.
  3. Cook the pasta in well-salted water, until just done. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, and set aside. Drain the pasta.
  4. In the now empty pasta pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and chile flakes, and cook until tender - 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir until uniform. Stir in the vodka until everything comes together into a cohesive sauce. Add the pureed tomatoes, and gently simmer for another minute or two. Stir in the heavy cream. Season to taste with the salt.
  5. Add the drained pasta to the pot and toss well to coat with the vodka sauce. Add a splash (or more) of the reserved pasta water to loosen things up a bit, you might not need the whole cup. Continue cooking for another minute or so until everything is hot. Taste and add more salt if needed.
  6. Serve in bowls showered with Parmesan and basil.

Notes

Serves Prep Time Cook Time Total Time
6 10 mins 20 mins 30 mins


 

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