Vodka is usually a staple in your house when creating the most delicious classic mix drinks or to experiment with new cocktails, but did you know that you can cook with vodka too? There are so many delicious dishes in which you can use vodka. When you are having people over for dinner, penne à lá vodka is one of our absolute favorites and it should be yours too! Almost everyone likes pasta, it is vegetarian and even vegan so you will not have to take into account all kinds of different dietary requests of your guests. This pasta will put a unique dish on your table that will be the talk of the town for a long time!
The sauce of this pasta is based on tomatoes, cream and you guessed it right, vodka. Usually, you will not put tomato sauce and cream together, as this will curdle. However, the vodka will act as an emulsifier, keeping the liquid and fats mixed together. Besides that, the vodka gives the sauce a delightful and special taste, making it unique.
In the 1980s, this dish was hugely popular in the United States and was most commonly served in the heaps of dinner dances. The origin of the dish is quite unclear, but we don’t think that it is authentically Italian considering the combination of cream and tomato sauce, for Italians that is like putting pineapples on a pizza. The alcohol from the vodka evaporates during cooking so that you can easily look up a recipe for a delicious cocktail with the leftover vodka.
You can make this dish super easy within 15 minutes and with only a few ingredients! Are you ready to put something truly unique on the table? Here is comes:
Heat the olive oil in a slightly deeper frying pan. Saute a shallot and some garlic for a couple of minutes. Add the tomato paste, chili flakes and some fresh basil and cook over low heat. Then stir the vodka, cream and 50 grams of grated cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook the pasta al dente. Serve in a nice plate with more grated cheese and a basil leaf on top.
If you want to add fish or meat, we advise you to add delicious tiger prawns. Serve with a fresh salad and you have a fantastic meal for yourself, your friends or family. Enjoy your meal!