Vodka Sauce – Spend With Pennies

May 28, 2025

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This vodka sauce recipe is wealthy and creamy with simply the correct amount of tang.

Vodka sauce is made with a wealthy tomato cream sauce, pancetta, parmesan cheese, and a shot of vodka for a velvety dish served over your favourite pasta.

pot of Vodka Sauce with a strainer full of noodles

Taste: This wealthy and creamy dish is made with tangy tomatoes which might be mellowed by heavy cream, with vodka including depth and taste to the sauce.
Ability Degree: Vodka sauce is a fast and simple one-pot sauce that’s beginner-friendly with spectacular outcomes.
Approach: Crushing the entire tomatoes earlier than utilizing them offers this dish its basic texture and makes use of each little bit of the juices.
Prep Be aware: Make forward and freeze till prepared to make use of, or double the recipe to freeze half for a future meal (extra info beneath).

parmesan , oil , whole tomatoes , heavy cream , pepper flakes , parsley , pancetta , crushed tomatoes , vodka , garlic , onion , salt and pepper with labels to make Vodka Sauce

Ingredient Suggestions for Vodka Sauce

Tomatoes: Canned San Marzanos tomatoes can have the most effective taste on this dish, however any high-quality canned tomatoes will work.
Dairy: Heavy cream will make the sauce further velvety, however half-and-half will work if a lighter sauce is most well-liked. Grate the parmesan cheese from a block since pre-shredded cheese received’t soften as nicely as a result of anti-caking brokers it’s packaged with.
Pancetta: Pancetta is a much-needed salty steadiness to the creamy sauce. Bacon, prosciutto, or Italian sausage will even work.
Vodka: No want for the expensive spirits, as vodka works primarily as an ingredient binder and taste enhancer whereas reducing the acidity. White wine, rooster, or vegetable broth will even work.
Pasta: Referred to as Penne alla Vodka on restaurant menus, tubular-shaped pastas are excellent for holding the scrumptious sauce. Bucatini, rotini, and cavatappi are all good choices.

cooking pancetta with onions to make Vodka Sauce

adding tomatoes and pepper glakes to pancetta and onion mixture to maek Vodka Sauce

If serving with pasta, add a splash of pasta water to assist the sauce cling to the noodles.
In case your sauce is tasting too acidic, add a pinch of sugar to offset the flavour.
When reheating, be sure to reheat slowly to maintain the cream from separating and stir nicely.

Storing Leftovers

Maintain leftover vodka sauce in a coated container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and freeze in zippered luggage for as much as one month.

Extra Favourite Pasta Sauces

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Straightforward Vodka Sauce

This creamy vodka sauce recipe blends tomatoes, pancetta, garlic, vodka, and cream for a wealthy, cozy pasta sauce that’s filled with daring taste and simple to make at residence.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook dinner Time 55 minutes

Complete Time 1 hour 15 minutes

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Utilizing your arms, squish the entire tomatoes right into a bowl to interrupt them up (reserving the juices) and put aside.
In a medium saucepan, warmth the oil over medium warmth. Add the onion and cook dinner till softened, 3 minutes. Stir within the pancetta or bacon and proceed cooking till a number of the fats has rendered out, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir within the garlic and cook dinner simply till aromatic.
Add the vodka and produce to a low boil, let boil uncovered for two minutes.
Stir in the entire and crushed tomatoes (with any juices) and the pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
Stir within the cream and simmer for a further 9 to 11 minutes or till thickened.
Take away from warmth, and add the parmesan cheese and parsley. Stir, style, and season with salt and pepper.

That is sufficient sauce to toss with 16 oz dry pasta.
No vodka? No downside! Use a splash of white wine as an alternative (though it received’t technically be vodka sauce anymore). For those who’d wish to make this recipe with out alcohol, go away the vodka out. It can change the flavour however it should nonetheless be scrumptious.
San Marzano tomatoes are most well-liked if you will get them. Break up complete tomatoes by hand earlier than utilizing or with the again of a picket spoon within the pan.
Add grilled shrimp, shredded rooster, or Italian sausage if desired.
Avoid wasting pasta water, in the event you combine the sauce with pasta, add a little bit of reserved pasta water. Not solely does it assist with consistency, however the starches additionally assist the sauce cling higher.
Maintain leftover sauce in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. It can maintain within the freezer for 1 month.

Diet info supplied is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Pasta, Sauce

Delicacies Italian

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