Is there anything better than vodka sauce? Decadent but yet so simple to prepare, this is a favorite when we are looking for a treat but don’t have a lot of time.
A few tips to make this dish perfect for you: never throw out your pasta water! After transferring your pasta to your sauce to finish cooking, add pasta water 1/2 cup at a time until the pasta is cooked to your liking. The more water you add, the thinner the sauce – the less, the thicker! Always salt to taste, but tomato paste is concentrated and often includes salt in it already (check your labels!) Likewise, this recipe calls for 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, which also has a salty taste! The pasta water is salted as well, which is why this recipe doesn’t call for any additional salt. The warmth of the pasta dish will slightly melt the burrata – making it the perfect temperature!
I hope you enjoy this decadent pasta dish. Buon appetito!
Rigatoni alla Vodka with Burrata
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
- 6 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 1/4 cup shallots, diced (1 large or 2 small)
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 burrata per person
Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil to cook the pasta. Salt generously.
- When the water is boiling, add the pasta to the water to cook and begin the sauce. Set a large pan over a medium flame. Add the olive oil and red pepper flakes and allow to heat for about a minute. Add the onions and garlic. Stir and cook until soft and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- To the pan, add the vodka and allow to reduce, about 2-4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to incorporate all the ingredients. Reduce flame to low and add heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Transfer about 1/2 cup of pasta water to thin the sauce, mix and allow to simmer.
- When pasta is slightly undercooked, transfer it to the sauce. Add another 1/2 cup of pasta water and toss, cooking until the pasta water is absorbed and pasta is cooked to your liking. Note: If the pasta water has absorbed but you would like your pasta to be cooked further, just add additional pasta water 1/2 cup a time.
- Plate and top with burrata.
