The most dreamy pasta! Penne alla vodka is unbelievably creamy and flavorful. This pasta looks fancy, but it's actually one of the easiest and quickest pasta dishes. Everyone should learn how to make penne alla vodka!
1cupregular seasoned croutons(or 1 cup of regular or Italian breadcrumbs)
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoondried basil
¼cupgrated parmesan cheese
Penne alla vodka
3tablespoonsolive oil
½yellow onion, finely chopped
3garlic cloves, finely chopped
¼ - ½teaspoonred pepper flakes(½ teaspoon is slightly spicy)
½teaspoondried oregano
½teaspoondried basil
1poundpenne pasta(or any short pasta noodles)
6ouncestomato paste
½cupvodka
2cupsheavy cream
4tablespoonssalted butter
1teaspoonsalt
¼cupgrated parmesan, plus more for serving
fresh basil, roughly chopped, for serving
Instructions
Parmesan herb breadcrumbs
Crush the croutons in a food processor or blender.
In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the crushed croutons, oregano and basil. Mix together and cook for 2-3 minutes until toasted. Mix in the parmesan and cook another 30-60 seconds until melted. Set aside.
Penne alla vodka
Add a large pot of water to the stove over high heat.
Add oil to a large skillet with tall sides and heat over medium. Add the onion and cook until it begins to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, and basil; cook another minute.
Add your pasta to the boiling water. Cook until al dente, about 2-3 minutes less than the suggested amount of time on the packaging. Reserve at least 1-2 cups of pasta water. While the pasta cooks, continue making your sauce.
Add the tomato paste to the skillet and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring continuously. Pour in the vodka and let cook off for a 1-2 minutes. Reduce to medium-low heat and add the heavy cream, whisking to combine.
Once the pasta is al dente, transfer the pasta to the vodka sauce and add a ½ cup of pasta water. Mix together and let the pasta continue to cook in the sauce for about 3-5 minutes, adding more pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.
Mix in the butter and parmesan until melted.
Serve with fresh basil and extra parmesan!
Nutritional information is automatically calculated by a third party software and is only an estimate, not a guarantee. This information is provided as courtesy, and you are solely responsible for all decisions related to your health.
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