Penne with Vodka Sauce

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You can whip this creamy, comforting pasta dish up in just about 30 minutes or so. The blush sauce and parmesan cheese with the complimenting taste of basil is just too yummy and satisfying. I used extra large penne noodles this time and they looked beautiful in this dish, it was pretty exciting for me :)

I used my Vitamix to puree my tomatoes before sautéing, to make it extra smooth. You may skip this part, it will just have a little more chunks in it. If you do, use crushed tomatoes.

Ingredients

  • 1 can whole tomatoes

  • 4 or more fresh basil leaves (plus more for garnish)

  • 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

  • 4 cloves of garlic

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 1/2 cup vodka

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

  • 1lb penne

  • grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Start pasta water.

  2. Heat a large skillet with olive oil, begin to sauté onion over medium low heat. Stir in garlic and fresh basil, saute for another minute.

  3. Add tomatoes to Vitamix or blender. Puree and then pour into skillet over low heat.

  4. Stir in vodka and add a sprinkle of salt. Return to medium heat for about 10 minutes.

  5. Add cream, stir and simmer on low for another 5 minutes, or until pasta is done.

  6. Once pasta is ready, drain and place in skillet with the sauce.

  7. Stir in about a half a cup of parmesan cheese until well blended.

  8. Serve penne with a little extra cheese and chopped basil for garnish. Don't forget to have some fresh Italian bread to soak up the delicious sauce left on your plate.

    We’d love to see your finished product! Post your picture on Instagram, tag us @danimade.kitchen and hashtag it #danimade.

PastaDanielle SimoneComment