The Best Vodka Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry rotini)
(or pasta shape of choice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large shallot
minced
- 2 garlic cloves
minced
- ⅔ cup tomato paste
- 3 tbsp vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- 1
Fill a large pot with water, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Add a small handful salt to water and add pasta.
- 2
Cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes.
- 3
Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water, and set both aside.
- 4
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once skillet is hot add oil and sauté shallots and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes, or until aromatics begin to slightly caramelize.
- 5
Add tomato paste and stir together. Continue to stir until paste turns bright red,2 to 3 minutes.
- 6
Deglaze skillet with vodka and stir together until vodka evaporates. Add reserved pasta water to skillet and stir together until smooth, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
- 7
Stir cream into sauce until mixture is smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer together, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter and Parmesan and continue to simmer until sauce is smooth, glossy and has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes.
- 8
Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss together until fully coated. Season with salt and pepper.
- 9
Serve with more grated Parmesan and black pepper.
The Best Vodka Sauce Recipe
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About this Recipe
Craving a restaurant-quality pasta dish that's rich and satisfying, but you're short on time? This recipe for The Best Vodka Sauce delivers incredible flavor in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights.
The magic lies in its simplicity and speed, transforming everyday ingredients like minced shallots and garlic with robust tomato paste into a velvety, creamy sauce. With a touch of vodka and indulgent heavy cream, this recipe achieves that smooth, luxurious texture and depth of flavor you crave without complex techniques.
Prepare to be amazed by a pasta dish that's both deeply comforting and surprisingly elegant. You'll savor a rich, creamy sauce that beautifully coats your chosen pasta, offering a harmonious blend of tangy tomato, savory garlic, and a subtle warmth from the vodka, all brightened by fresh Parmesan. This sauce is designed to be smooth and absolutely delicious, turning a simple meal into something truly special. It's the kind of dish you'll want to make again and again for its incredible ease and fantastic taste.
While this recipe shines as written, feel free to experiment with your pasta choice; rotini is suggested, but penne, rigatoni, or even spaghetti would be delightful. You can also adjust the amounts of salt and pepper to perfectly suit your palate.
This easy vodka sauce recipe is perfectly suited for a comforting weeknight dinner, offering a taste of indulgence without the fuss. Serve it simply with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan for a meal that truly satisfies.