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Pasta Alla Vodka - Easy weeknight cooking

The easiest tomato based pasta dish to make during the week that is made with a few pantry ingredients and vodka of course. Pasta alla vodka is the perfect one pot dinner recipe to whip up in little time.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • Chopping board
  • Knife
  • Heavy bottom sauce pan
  • Grater
  • Wooden spoon
  • Stock pot
  • colander

Ingredients
  

  • 450 gm rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion finely minced
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1/4 tsp paprika powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper powder
  • 10 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup vodka
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup greek yogurt beaten in a bowl
  • 1/2 - 1 cup pasta water reserved
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated

Serve with

  • Freshly chopped parsley and more parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a large saucepan, over low heat, add the olive oil, minced onion, minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Add in the tomato paste, with paprika powder and cook it until the tomato paste turns a really dark red color, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the vodka and let it sizzle, allow the vodka to cook off, about 1 minute.
  • Add in the heavy cream and stir it until smooth. Turn off the sauce. Now, we’re gonna get going with boiling the pasta!
  • Bring a stock pot of salted water to a boil. Pour in the pasta and cook as per the package instructions - until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
  • Put the sauce to back on medium heat. Pour in 1/2 cup pasta water, along with the grated parmesan cheese and stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning, take it of the heat.
  • Add the yogurt and stir until combined. Pour in the pasta and then add in the butter, mix it until combined or until thick and luscious.
  • Garnish with grated parmesan and parsley, enjoy while it is hot.

Notes

  • Do not over cook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the hot vodka tomato sauce.
  • If the sauce is to thick add more water if it is too thin allow it to cook a couple of minutes longer before adding the pasta into it.