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This gourmet-style Vodka Rigatoni recipe tosses rigatoni pasta in a fast and easy home made vodka sauce. Luxuriously creamy with irresistible Italian flavors and a refined warmth, it’s one of the best 30-minute meatless meal!
In case you love elegant, restaurant-quality pasta dishes, like my eggplant pasta or hen pesto pasta, this straightforward vodka rigatoni recipe is for you!
Freshly cooked rigatoni pasta is tossed with a ridiculously creamy and barely spicy vodka sauce on this straightforward however luxurious meal. Sure, there’s vodka within the pasta sauce however don’t fear! You don’t style it and a lot of the alcohol cooks out.
So easy and prepared in half-hour however nonetheless filled with taste due to the home made sauce, rigatoni alla vodka will shortly turn into a brand new household dinner favourite!
Recipe options
- As one of the best vodka rigatoni recipe, each chunk has connoisseur flavors and simply the correct quantity of spice.
- It’s made with easy elements and is simple to throw collectively in lower than half-hour, making it excellent for fancy dinner events or weeknight household meals.
- Don’t fear concerning the vodka within the sauce – the flavour and alcohol evaporate!
Substances
Canned tomatoes – Hearth-roasted crushed tomatoes, to be precise! Use both crushed or diced tomatoes. I like how the fire-roasted tomatoes add daring flavors and one other layer of refined warmth to this spicy rigatoni vodka recipe however common crushed or diced tomatoes work simply as effectively.
Milk and cream – The perfect vodka sauce is luxuriously creamy, and to get there, you want a mixture of milk and cream. You need to use cow’s milk or fatty non-dairy milk, like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Heavy cream is greatest however half-and-half works, too.
Vodka – As a result of it wouldn’t be vodka pasta sauce with out vodka! Use a low to mid-priced model; the nuanced flavors are principally hidden within the sauce, so there’s no want to make use of a top-shelf model.
Parmesan cheese – I like to recommend grating the parmesan cheese your self. Pre-grated parmesan comprises anti-clumping brokers, which may forestall it from melting into the pasta sauce as properly because the recent stuff.
Rigatoni pasta – Rigatoni is a short-cut ridged, tubular pasta that traps the creamy vodka sauce in all of its nooks and crannies. In case you don’t have rigatoni, use penne, ziti, or one other short-cut pasta you will have readily available. Gluten-free pasta works, too!
Directions
Step 1: Sauté the aromatics. Warmth the oil in a big pot. As soon as heat, add the garlic and sauté till it’s aromatic.
Step 2: Make the vodka sauce. Stir the tomatoes (with out their juices), cream, milk, and vodka into the pot. Subsequent, stir within the parsley, salt, and crimson pepper flakes. Place the lid on prime and let the sauce simmer.
Step 3: Prepare dinner the pasta. In the meantime, cook dinner the pasta in a separate saucepan based on the package deal directions.
Step 4: Pureé. Pureé the sauce with an immersion blender or mix it in an everyday blender till easy. Pour it again into the pot.
Step 5: End the sauce, then serve. Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce till coated. Garnish with additional cheese, recent basil, and crimson pepper flakes, then take pleasure in!
Suggestions and FAQs
- Save time by making the vodka sauce 2 to three days upfront. Maintain it in a sealed jar or container within the fridge, then gently reheat it in a pot earlier than serving with freshly cooked pasta.
- If the pasta sauce is a bit too thick, skinny it with a splash of reserved pasta water. It’ll skinny the sauce whereas the starch helps it cling to each piece of pasta.
- Make this meal additional filling with meat! Stir pre-cooked Italian sausage, crispy bacon, shrimp, or diced hen breasts in with the pasta and sauce earlier than serving.
Tip
Bear in mind to drain the surplus liquid from the canned tomatoes earlier than pouring them into the pot.
Variations
- As an alternative of vodka – Make the sauce with gin, dry white wine, silver tequila, or hen broth.
- Alcohol-free – You’ll be able to go away the vodka out of the sauce to maintain it alcohol-free however know that it will likely be lacking its signature chunk.
- Dairy-free – Use 2 cups of dairy-free milk as a substitute of the milk and cream, and use vegan parmesan as a substitute of normal parmesan cheese.
- Gluten-free – Use your favourite gluten-free pasta as a substitute of the rigatoni.
Serving recommendations
For a really spectacular meal, begin with a Caesar salad as an appetizer and loads of garlic bread. Both benefit from the pasta by itself or pair it with vegetable-forward aspect dishes, like honey roasted tomatoes, garlic broccoli steaks, or sautéed asparagus. A chocolate caramel lava cake or a no-bake cottage cheese cheesecake for dessert can be the proper crowning glory to this Italian-inspired feast!
What does vodka do in vodka sauce?
Vodka is why this sauce is so flavorful and well-balanced. It brings out the flavors within the tomatoes and helps them break down, which makes for a smoother sauce. The vodka taste, whereas impartial, additionally offers the sauce a slight chunk and sweetness.
Are you able to get drunk from vodka pasta?
No, you received’t get drunk from the vodka pasta sauce. Virtually the entire alcohol within the vodka evaporates because the sauce simmers, leaving solely its flavor-balancing qualities behind.
Is rigatoni alla vodka spicy?
Personally, I feel the vodka pasta has the proper quantity of spice. The hearth-roasted tomatoes, chili flakes, and splash of vodka lend a well-balanced kick of warmth that’s complementary to the opposite flavors and by no means overwhelming.
In case you’re frightened about it being too spicy, omit the chili flakes or use plain canned tomatoes.
Storing
Fridge: Rigatoni alla vodka is greatest when it’s served scorching and recent from the range. If you find yourself with leftovers, retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
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In case you made this rigatoni and vodka sauce recipe, make sure to go away a remark and star score beneath. Thanks!
Vodka Rigatoni
This gourmet-style Vodka Rigatoni recipe tosses rigatoni pasta in a fast and easy home made vodka sauce. Luxuriously creamy with irresistible Italian flavors and a refined warmth, it’s one of the best 30-minute meatless meal!
Servings:
Directions
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Add oil and garlic to a dutch oven or massive pot and sauté for two minutes or till garlic is aromatic.
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Then, pressure the liquid from the cans of tomatoes and add simply the tomatoes, cream (or half and half), milk, and vodka to the pot and stir to mix; final, stir within the parsley, salt and crimson pepper flakes, place a lid on prime and simmer sauce for quarter-hour.
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Whereas the sauce is simmering, cook dinner the pasta in a separate saucepan.
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As soon as the sauce is finished, use an immersion blender to mix the sauce till easy. Alternatively, you’ll be able to pour the sauce right into a blender and mix it up that method. Final, stir within the cheese till melted. Garnish with further cheese and recent basil. Get pleasure from!
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Pour sauce again into the dutch oven, then add the cooked pasta and stir to mix. Add additional parmesan cheese and/or crimson pepper flakes to style.
Notes
*Energy are per serving and are an estimation.
Vitamin
Serving: 1g | Energy: 592kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 19g | Fats: 25g | Saturated Fats: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 9g | Ldl cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 487mg | Potassium: 619mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1047IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 3mg
UPDATE NOTE: This publish was initially printed in April 2019. It was up to date with new textual content and photographs in July 2020.
