Does penne vodka have alcohol?

Yes, but it’s cooked off so you won’t consume it and it’s safe for kids. You can also make it without vodka if you’re concerned about it.

What does vodka do to pasta sauce?

Cream and tomato sauce don’t mix together well since one is acid-based and the other is fat-based. It’s like mixing oil and vinegar. They need a stabilizing ingredient to make them emulsify. That’s where the vodka comes in. Adding a little vodka allows the tomato sauce and cream to come together in a smooth sauce. In addition, vodka adds a sharp peppery bite to the sauce to help balance out the sweetness.

How long does it take to burn off vodka in sauce?

You can easily burn off the alcohol from this dish so there’s no need to worry about consuming it with the meal. All it takes is 7 minutes of simmering to remove alcohol from this dish.

Penne Vodka Sauce

Description

Penne vodka sauce is an easy weeknight meal made with marinara sauce, vodka, penne pasta, and fresh basil. It’s tasty and incredibly quick to make!

Ingredients

Units Scale

3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup finely chopped sweet onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
24 oz. jar good-quality marinara sauce, such as Rao’s
1/3 cup vodka
1/2 cup half and half, plus more to taste
2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
16 oz. dry penne pasta
Fresh basil, to serve

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

In a large deep skillet or saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions with a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes.
Stir in garlic and red chili flakes. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly.
Add marinara sauce and vodka. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, stirring occasionally for about 8-10 minutes. Keep the pan uncovered and if needed reduce the heat to a medium-low so the sauce is at a gentle simmer.
Stir in half and half and cook until warmed through, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste the sauce, and add more half and half if needed. The sauce should taste creamy with a slightly sweet but sharp, bright flavor from the vodka and chili flakes.
Cook penne pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
Toss the cooked pasta with sauce. If needed, add some of the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce. Serve immediately garnished with fresh basil and more Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 341
Sugar: 7.4 g
Sodium: 401.7 mg
Fat: 8 g
Carbohydrates: 51.9 g
Protein: 9.7 g
Cholesterol: 3.3 mg