Copycat Carmine's Penne Alla Vodka
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ small onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup basil chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup vodka
- 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Method
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and garlic, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to brown.
- Add in the fresh chopped basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the vodka and allow it to cook off for 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes and bring the sauce up to a boil. Pour in the cream and reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to thickens.
- Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, and stir in the salt and pepper. Add in the cooked pasta, and cook for 4-5 minutes until pasta is heated through.
- Serve with extra cheese for garnish and serve hot. Top with fresh herbs if desired.
Nutrition
Calories397kcalCarbohydrates46gProtein12gFat17gSaturated Fat6gPolyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat7gCholesterol28mgSodium374mgPotassium196mgFiber2gSugar2gVitamin A544IUVitamin C4mgCalcium141mgIron1mg
Notes
Note: while this isn’t Carmine’s official recipe, it’s a delicious at-home version I developed in my kitchen to bring to you!
Additions and Substitutions
Fresh parsley and basil are best for this dish – You can use dried, but if possible use fresh herbs if you can.
If you don’t have penne pasta, you can use any medium-shaped pasta for this dish: rotini, medium shells, or rigatoni are all great choices to enjoy with this creamy sauce.
And if you don’t have vodka, don’t worry – you can skip it and still get that great creamy tomato sauce flavor.