That's right, one of American food's indigenous ingredients has now been infused in vodka. Tomato vodka sauces are very popular in Italian-American restaurants, and while this recipe can be done with regular vodka, a tomato-infused vodka will give the sauce an extra layer of flavor.
Makes 4 Portions of Penne with Vodka Sauce
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 chopped ripe tomato
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- crushed hot red pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup tomato vodka
- 3/4 cup canned tomato puree
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (or other high-quality Parmesan)
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add tomato, onion and crushed pepper and simmer for about 3 minutes. Stir in vodka and bring to a lively simmer for about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree and heavy cream, and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to very low, and stir in the cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Keep sauce warm over very low heat until pasta is ready. Boil pasta in salted water according to directions. Drain and toss with warm sauce. Serve immediately.
