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Spoonful of homemade vodka sauce.
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Vodka Sauce

Homemade vodka sauce – where these simple ingredients work their delicious magic for a pasta dish that's always a hit! 🍅🍸
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Meal
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 476kcal
Author: Marie

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1 can 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish
  • 1 lb penne pasta cooked al dente

Instructions

Sauté Aromatics:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent.

Add Flavor:

  • Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Deglaze with Vodka:

  • Pour in the vodka and let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes, allowing the alcohol to cook off and the flavors to meld. It is essential to cook off the alcohol, or your sauce will be bitter. The alcohol smell should dissipate when it's been cooked off.

Enhance with Tomato Paste:

  • Incorporate the tomato paste into the sauce, stirring well to combine and intensify the tomato flavor.

Incorporate Crushed Tomatoes, Cream and Cheese:

  • Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet and stir well. Allow the sauce to simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to thicken and develop flavor.
  • Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine, creating a rich and creamy sauce. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes, being careful not to let it boil.
  • Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Combine Sauce and Pasta:

  • Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the vodka sauce. Gently toss the pasta to ensure it's coated evenly with the sauce.
  • Garnish with chiffonade of fresh basil for a burst of freshness and color.

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 403IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 1mg