Chef John's Penne With Vodka Sauce

Name: How to Make Pasta Recipes With Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings

It's the cheesy meat sauce that makes this pasta that scrumptious.

Penne Pasta With Creamy Tomato And Meat Sauce Recipe

Recipe Summary Chef John's Penne With Vodka Sauce

This is the incredibly easy and always popular vodka sauce. There are certain flavors in tomatoes that are only brought out if you introduce alcohol into the sauce.

Ingredients | Pasta Recipes With Meat Sauce

4 ounces pancetta bacon, diced

1 small sprig fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup vodka

½ cup heavy whipping cream

freshly ground black pepper to taste

3 cups prepared marinara sauce

¾ cup water

1 (14.5 ounce) package multigrain penne pasta (such as Barilla®)

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook and stir bacon and rosemary sprig with olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat until bacon renders its fat but is not crisp, about 5 minutes. Pour vodka into the skillet, standing back to avoid any flare-ups. Raise heat to high and continue to cook until the vodka reduces to about 2 tablespoons.

Pour heavy cream into skillet, stir briefly, and add black pepper; bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until sauce has slightly reduced, 3 to 4 minutes. Mix marinara sauce and water into cream mixture and bring to a simmer. Lower heat and simmer sauce 20 to 25 minutes to blend flavors.

Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still chewy, about 10 minutes; drain and return to pot. Pour sauce over penne and stir to combine. Turn off heat, cover pot with a lid, and let stand 5 minutes for pasta to absorb sauce. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Feel free to use bacon if you don't have pancetta.

Info | Pasta Recipes With Meat Sauce

prep: 15 mins cook: 50 mins additional: 5 mins total: 1 hr 10 mins Servings: 6 Yield: 6 servings

TAG : Chef John's Penne With Vodka Sauce

Side Dish, Sauces and Condiments Recipes, Sauce Recipes, Pasta Sauce Recipes, Creamy,