Description
A creamy, spicy, and savory weeknight dinner that comes together in 30 minutes. This foolproof recipe features penne tossed in a rich tomato-vodka sauce with crispy pancetta and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 ounces pancetta, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 pound penne rigate
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice pancetta, mince garlic, measure vodka, cream, and tomato paste, and grate Parmesan.
- Cook pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add garlic and red pepper flakes to the fat, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant without browning.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen flavor.
- Pour in vodka and simmer for 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol, scraping up browned bits.
- Add crushed tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until thickened.
- While sauce simmers, boil penne in heavily salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Reduce sauce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and warm through for 1 minute.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat. Stir in half the crispy pancetta and most of the basil. Serve topped with remaining pancetta, basil, and Parmesan.
Notes
Do not skip the pasta water; it helps the sauce cling to the pasta. Cook the vodka off for at least 2 minutes to remove the harsh alcohol taste. Add cream on low heat to prevent breaking. Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smooth sauce. The sauce thickens in the fridge, so add a splash of milk or cream when reheating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: penne alla vodka, pancetta pasta, creamy tomato sauce, easy weeknight dinner, italian pasta, vodka sauce