Vodka sauce is a silky, creamy, tomato-based pasta sauce made with vodka, cream, tomatoes, shallots, garlic and spices. It’s a delicious sauce that tastes great with cheese ravioli, or rotini pasta.
Vodka Sauce Recipe
Vodka Sauce
Equipment
- blender
- cutting board
- kitchen knife
- large stock pot
- measuring cups
- wire whisk
Ingredients
- 1 cup roasted garden tomatoes – skins removed, and crushed.
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 shallot – minced
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter – unsalted
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese – freshly grated
Instructions
- Add crushed garden tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken stock to a blender. Blend until smooth. If you don't have access to garden tomatoes, use canned San Marzano crushed tomatoes instead.1 cup roasted garden tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1/2 cup chicken stock
- Add olive oil to a stock pot over medium-low heat.2 tbsp olive oil
- Sauté shallots and garlic in the olive oil until aromatic, 3-4 minutes.1 shallot, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the tomato mixture, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Whisk in the salt and pepper.1/2 tsp kosher salt , 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Deglaze with vodka, and stir until vodka is evaporated.1/4 cup vodka
- Add the heavy cream.1 cup heavy cream
- Whisk in the cream, then simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the butter, whisk until sauce is glossy.2 tbsp butter
- Add the Parmesan cheese, and simmer until sauce is thick.1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Here I'm boiling cheese raviolis.
- Adjust seasonings. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, and gently stir until pasta is fully coated.
- Serve with grated Parmesan and cracked black pepper. Delicious!
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
Recipe Variations
If you make your pasta ahead of time, reserve some of the starchy water. Instead of using chicken stock, use an equal amount of starchy pasta water. The starch in the water will help thicken the sauce, which will help it to cling to the pasta. It also acts as an emulsifier, which helps to prevent separation in creamy sauces such as Vodka Sauce.
What Does the Vodka Do?
Since most of the vodka evaporates when you are cooking, you might be wondering what is the big deal about adding vodka? Vodka enhances the sauce in a number of different ways. It helps to bring out the flavor in the tomatoes, and helps to balance out the sweetness of the cream. As the alcohol evaporates, it will funnel aromatics to your nose, which enhances the flavor and experience. It also helps emulsify the tomato and cream. This helps to create a velvety, silky texture which is one of the most appealing qualities of this delicious sauce.
Fresh is Always Best!
I love using garden tomatoes in the dishes I create. They work perfectly in Vodka Sauce. They add so much wonderful flavor that you just can’t find in grocery store tomatoes. My garden produces lots and lots of tomatoes – more than I could ever use at one time. So, I will roast, crush, and sauce them. Then I’ll freeze them for later use. I’ve included my Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce recipe below, in case you want to follow my lead.
If you don’t have a garden, or access to homegrown tomatoes, you can substitute good quality canned crushed tomatoes, such as San Marzano. The sauce will still be amazing!
Pasta Varieties to Try
I used a store-bought 4-cheese ravioli in this recipe. Spiral rotini or fusilli pasta would also be an excellent alternative. Try tube shaped pastas such as penne or rigatoni. The tube shape and ridges allow for the sauce to penetrate, coating the pasta inside and out.
Vodka Sauce on Rotini Pasta
Try vodka sauce on spiral rotini pasta, topped with fresh basil, oregano, grated Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. Delicious!
Keeping
Vodka sauce keeps well in the freezer. Add your unused sauce to a lidded container, and freeze it for later. To reheat, simmer over a low heat. Add a little chicken stock if necessary to thin it out.
Related Recipes
Amatriciana Sauce
Arrabbiata or Pomodoro Sauce
Tuscan Shrimp
Chicken Piccata
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