Description
Creamy vodka sauce elevates pasta with its luxurious Italian-American charm, blending rich tomatoes and smooth cream into a silky culinary masterpiece. Sophisticated yet simple, this indulgent sauce promises restaurant-quality dining right at your kitchen table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can (28 ounces / 794 grams) crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) vodka
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish:
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by gently warming olive oil and butter in a spacious skillet over moderate temperature. Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant essence for approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Pour crushed tomatoes and vodka into the pan, creating a vibrant mixture. Allow the liquid to gently simmer, stirring intermittently, until the sauce reduces and concentrates its flavors for 10-15 minutes.
- Incorporate heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring carefully to create a luxurious, velvety texture. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, smooth consistency, approximately 5 minutes.
- Elevate the sauce’s flavor profile by seasoning with salt and black pepper according to personal preference. For those desiring a subtle kick, sprinkle a pinch of red pepper flakes to introduce a gentle warmth.
- Select your preferred pasta – whether penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti – and generously coat with the creamy vodka sauce. Enhance the presentation by garnishing with additional Parmesan shavings and delicate fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- Choose high-quality vodka for a cleaner, more refined sauce flavor profile that elevates the entire dish.
- Use San Marzano tomatoes for the most authentic and richly sweet crushed tomato base, which dramatically improves sauce depth.
- Let the sauce simmer slowly to develop complex flavors and allow alcohol to fully integrate with the tomato and cream components.
- Consider substituting lactose-free cream and nutritional yeast for a dairy-free version that maintains the sauce’s creamy texture and richness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg