A plate of tomato penne pasta with a small plate of grated parmesan on the side

Vodka pasta (penne alla vodka)

Name: Vodka pasta (penne alla vodka)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter or olive oil; 2 garlic cloves , crushed; pinch of dried chilli flakes; 50ml vodka; 250ml passata; 150ml double cream or mascarpone; 1 tsp sugar; 2 tsp red wine vinegar; 200g pasta tubes (we used rigatoni); 25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative) , finely grated, plus extra to serve; basil leaves , to serve

Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:5 mins
- Cook:15 mins
Easy
Serves 2

Ingredients

1 tbsp butter or olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
pinch of dried chilli flakes
50ml vodka
250ml passata
150ml double cream or mascarpone
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp red wine vinegar
200g pasta tubes (we used rigatoni)
25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated, plus extra to serve
basil leaves, to serve

Method

STEP 1
Heat the butter or oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat, cook the garlic and chilli for a few seconds, then add the vodka and bubble for a minute. Add the passata and simmer for 10-15 mins or until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, the sugar and vinegar.
STEP 2
Cook the pasta following pack instructions, and add a ladle of the pasta water to the tomato sauce, along with the cream. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce, stirring well. Add a little more of the pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Stir in the cheese until melted and season to taste. Serve with extra parmesan and a few basil leaves.