Authentic Vodka Penne Recipe: A Must-Try Pasta Dish
Penne alla Vodka is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring penne pasta in a creamy tomato sauce infused with vodka, complemented with bacon, onions, and heavy cream.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ white onion chopped
- 150 g smoked pancetta diced (or bacon)
- 80 ml Vodka
- 300 g tomato purée
- Salt to taste
- Chili powder to taste
- 320 g pasta penne
- 250 ml heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the packaging instructions (about 8–10 minutes, depending on the brand).
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat a small drizzle of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and translucent.
- Add diced bacon and continue cooking until the fat is rendered, and the bacon is crisp, about 7–8 minutes.
- Once the bacon is ready, add vodka to the pan. Allow the vodka to reduce by half, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Then, stir in tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Season the sauce with salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes to taste.
- Add the heavy cream and let it thicken on the heat a few minutes.
- When the pasta is al dente, drain it thoroughly and add it directly to the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together over the heat until the pasta is fully coated.
- Plate individual portions of the penne with vodka and garnish as desired.
- Enjoy!