This cozy comfort food recipe for Penne alla Vodka is a restaurant-quality meal made with simple ingredients in about 20 minutes. Enjoy this insanely creamy sauce with your favorite pasta.
Follow cooking instructions on your chosen pasta package, leaving the pasta slightly al dente. This recipe works well with penne, rigatoni, or zucchette. Reserve some pasta water for thinning the sauce.
To make the sauce: add olive oil to a large pot over medium/high heat. Add onions and stir until translucent and soft (about 2 minutes). Then, add garlic and tomato paste and stir for another 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste, stirring continuously. Add red pepper flakes (if using). If adding vodka, do so here and let it cook off for a minute. Then, add your cream (heavy cream or oat creamer) and Parmesan cheese, stirring for about 3 minutes. Bring the pasta to the pan with the sauce and a tiny pinch of reserved pasta water to help the sauce emulsify and thicken. Stir to coat the pasta thoroughly. Add basil or parsley and grate more fresh Parmesan on top. Enjoy!
