My take on the pasta that got us all through 2020.
Spicy Vodka Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil (30g)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (60g)
- 2 shallots, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ tsp chilli flakes (or more if you like it 🔥)
- ½ cup double concentrate tomato paste (I use a full tube of Mutti Tomato Paste Double Concentrate 130g)
- 2 tbsp vodka
- 1 cup cooking cream
- Salt flakes
- 400g dry pasta (short pasta like fusilli, rigatoni, or shells work well)
- 30g finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves
Method
- Heat oil and ½ of butter in a large pan on medium.
- Add shallots, garlic and chilli flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent (around 5 minutes).
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the colour deepens (around 5 minutes).
- Add vodka and stir constantly until the liquid has mostly evaporated (around 2 minutes).
- Add cream and stir until incorporated.
- Season with a good pinch of salt and remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid.
- Drain pasta and add to sauce with remaining butter and ½ cup of pasta cooking liquid.
- Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly, until butter is incorporated and sauce is glossy (around 2 minutes). Add more pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Taste and season with salt, and stir through Parmesan and basil.
- Serve 😽👌