Rotini ala Vodka
Mmmmm. This is has been a favorite dish of kev’s for a long time. My mom makes a killer Rigatoni ala Vodka. Kev hopes we have it every time we go over there. I usually never make it myself though. My mom gave me her recipe and I have made it once before but of course it didn’t taste the same because my mom wasn’t making it. Anyways, for our special LOST night I decided to try a different recipe for it so then we weren’t disappointed that it just didn’t taste like my moms. This one was pretty darn good. It had a little bit of a kick to it with the red pepper flakes which I liked a lot. I toped it off with some fresh Parmesan and some garlic bread.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/4326403045/
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup vodka
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 box Whole Wheat pasta (really doesn’t matter what shape)
1/2 cup heavy cream
5 basil leaves, rolled together and chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
fresh cracked pepper and salt
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil. Add onions, garlic and crushed red pepper cook until onions are translucent about 5 minutes. Pour in vodka. Cook 3 minutes. Pour in tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Set aside.
3. After sauce has simmered for 20 minutes, whisk 1 tablespoon of sauce into cream to temper it. Slowly stir tempered cream into the tomato sauce. Add cooked pasta to the sauce. Stir to combine.
4.Stir in basil and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
Serve with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers.
The garlic bread is made by spreading butter (earth balance) on bread, add some garlic salt, top with grated Parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes and broil for a few mins until golden brown.
This makes me think of your mom. Just looking at hit makes me think of when I used to come over your house for lunch after church and that bread, oh it’s magical. Anyway, it looks beautiful. Remember i told you about that recipe i was going to share with you, well, lol it’s a rigatoni pasta in a vodka sauce with roasted vegetables. i thought its funny cuz it’s close to this one. I had seen the recipe in an article about dishes that restaurants put out for marathon runners. So it reminded me of u. Anywho, have a great day.
I’m eating the leftovers now. Yup, It’s 9:45am. Couldn’t wait till lunch. I didn’t realize last night how much of a kick there is in it. I like it!
That looks soooo good! Reminds me a bit of this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/you-wont-be-single-for-long-vodka-cream-pasta-recipe/index.html
But I really want to try yours! Hmmm!
It sounds great! I love cooking with heavy cream…there is nothing that can replace it!
That looks (and sounds) SO good. Now I am super hungry.
I loooove vodka sauce! The first time I ever had it, I had no idea what it was or if it would even be very good. I don’t like sauce on my pasta generally–I’m a butter, garlic, and parmesan girl. But my husband loves this sauce and had me try it and I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven. We have the store-bought kind, but I hadn’t thought to make it myself though! I think a trip to the liquor store is in order 😉
Yum! I’m going to make this tonight 🙂