Spicy Rigatoni Vodka | Diethood
Spicy rigatoni alla vodka hits the jackpot for taste! Tender rigatoni pasta will get tossed in creamy tomato sauce with a splash (or two) of vodka and zesty pink pepper flakes. When you’ve ever tried Italian-American restaurant Carbone’s spicy rigatoni vodka, you’ll love this do-it-yourself model.
I like straightforward pasta dinners like this rigatoni vodka pasta and creamy lemon pasta, which I can have on the desk in 20 minutes. Simply add a facet of breadsticks!
I’m unsure what the Italians thought after they determined a shot of vodka belonged in a pot of creamy tomato pasta sauce, however I’m glad they did. Only a splash is all it takes to tie this vodka sauce collectively, from the caramelized shallots to the tangy tomato paste and tingly pink pepper flakes.
I can’t look ahead to our subsequent date evening in as a result of this spicy rigatoni vodka is ideal. Goce, my pasta-loving husband, goes to be thrilled! In the meantime, I’ll be in search of an excuse to entertain. You possibly can wager this straightforward pasta will likely be on the menu!
Why I Love This Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka Recipe
Prepared in 20 minutes. Apart from boiling the pasta individually, you may make this rigatoni vodka recipe in a single pan on the stovetop in 20 minutes or much less.
Zesty and creamy. I like the zing of chili flakes in my favourite do-it-yourself vodka sauce. It’s straightforward to adapt should you’d choose your sauce milder or extra spicy. In the meantime, this sauce seems SO silky because of just a little vodka magic and an excellent quantity of heavy cream. I feel we’re all in settlement that carbs take a corridor move on pasta evening.
Date evening accepted. I don’t know if it’s the colour of the sauce (pink is the colour of affection, in spite of everything), however I can’t consider a greater dinner-for-two pasta dish than this spicy rigatoni vodka with a facet of filet mignon! And even higher, you’ll have leftovers for lunch!
What You’ll Want
This spicy rigatoni alla vodka is an element pasta arrabbiata, half creamy tomato pasta, and 100% straightforward to make with easy elements. Discover some fast notes beneath. You should definitely scroll to the recipe card after the publish for a printable elements listing with quantities.
- Rigatoni – I like rigatoni or mezzi (smaller rigatoni) in recipes like this as a result of the little tube shapes get coated with sauce in and out. However you need to use any pasta you’ve got within the cabinet. For greatest outcomes, although, attempt to substitute an identical pasta with ridges, like penne.
- Olive Oil – For sautéeing.
- Shallot – Or one other delicate onion, like yellow onion.
- Garlic – Freshly minced. Garlic powder can be utilized if contemporary garlic isn’t accessible.
- Tomato Paste – This may be substituted with tomato puree or tomato sauce in a pinch.
- Butter – A few knobs of butter give the sauce additional richness. You possibly can skip this should you’d like.
- Pink Pepper Flakes – Crushed pink pepper flakes are at all times my first selection, however you possibly can change dried flakes with crushed Calabrian chilis or chili paste, just like the Carbone recipe. Adapt the quantity to style.
- Vodka – The sport-changer! You don’t want to make use of the top-shelf stuff, however I at all times suggest cooking with alcohol that you simply’d wish to drink. And whereas it technically gained’t be alla vodka, you possibly can substitute vodka on this sauce if wanted. Extra on this beneath.
- Heavy Cream – You should utilize complete milk as a substitute or half & half, however the sauce gained’t be fairly as silky.
- Parmesan – For the love of taste, please use freshly grated!
- Seasonings – Salt and pepper, plus contemporary parsley for garnish.
What Does Alla Vodka Imply?
As you possibly can see, rigatoni alla vodka is generally tomato sauce with the addition of cream, vodka, and on this case, pink pepper flakes. The cream softens the tanginess of the vodka and kick from the chilis, and provides the sauce its iconic pink-orange coloration.
Whereas vodka sauce’s origins are just a little fuzzy, some say that the unique recipe, penne alla vodka, originated in Bologna, Italy. Which simply so occurs to be the hometown of one other favourite of mine, Bolognese sauce! Neglect pasta evening, I’m sensing a pasta WEEK approaching.
Can I Substitute the Vodka?
Certain, and your sauce will nonetheless prove tasty. If it is advisable to change the vodka in your vodka sauce, gin or dry white white are good substitutes. Hen broth may also be used should you’d choose to make your sauce alcohol-free.
Tips on how to Make Spicy Rigatoni Vodka
Let’s get cooking! Mild the candles, pour your self a glass of cool rosé (or shake your self a martini whereas the vodka’s out), and comply with together with the quick recipe notes outlined right here. You’ll discover printable directions within the recipe card.
- Prepare dinner your pasta. Begin by cooking the rigatoni in salted boiling water. Goal for al dente, which means agency with just a little chew. Earlier than you drain the pasta– essential– scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and set this apart for the sauce.
- Put together the sauce. Drain the pasta, and get shallots and garlic sauteeing in a skillet. Add tomato paste and butter, and stir within the pink pepper flakes.
- End the sauce. After that’s cooked off just a little, you’ll pour within the vodka to deglaze the pan. Lastly, whisk within the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. You’ll need to do that over low warmth in order that the dairy doesn’t break up.
- Put all of it collectively. Toss your cooked rigatoni proper within the skillet with the sauce. Drizzle in just a little pasta water, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with contemporary parsley. Buon appetito!
Recipe Suggestions
My prime ideas for cooking one of the best rigatoni alla vodka come all the way down to the way you prepare dinner your pasta:
- Salt the pasta water. The important thing to completely seasoned pasta is well-seasoned pasta water. Ask any Nonna from Italy, and he or she’ll inform you, that the water used to prepare dinner pasta ought to be salty just like the Mediterranean Sea. I like to recommend including wherever between 1-3 tablespoons relying on how a lot water is within the pot. Additionally, professional tip: You should utilize any cheap desk salt for this. Save your fancy sea salt for ending!
- Save the pasta water. Reserve a minimum of 1 cup of the water you used to boil your pasta earlier than you chuck the remainder out. If it is advisable to skinny out the sauce, doing so with pasta water is one of the simplest ways to convey your vodka sauce collectively with out compromising taste. The starches within the water emulsify with the opposite elements, and the salt helps construct up the flavour.
- Don’t overcook. Make sure that to prepare dinner the rigatoni till it’s simply al dente. You need the within to be just a little agency whereas the skin has some give. Comply with the instructions on the package deal, as not all pasta manufacturers prepare dinner the identical. And, do your greatest to not overcook the noodles, as they’ll turn out to be mushy.
Serving Recommendations
This spicy rigatoni vodka is the proper meatless dish simply begging to be devoured with a facet of focaccia and a glass of your favourite wine. Normally, all we have to spherical out a meal is a sharing-sized chef’s salad, or this Mediterranean salad with roasted candy corn and chickpeas.
When you’d choose a cooked veggie facet, strive lemon butter inexperienced beans or sautéed broccolini. This rigatoni alla vodka is scrumptious in any season, whether or not we’re entertaining on a cold winter night or eating open air in the summertime!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Maintain leftover rigatoni in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Normally, I’m not too keen on freezing pasta recipes, particularly ones with cream within the sauce, because the dairy tends to separate as soon as it’s thawed.
To reheat, heat your leftovers in a saucepan on the stovetop with a sprinkle of water to assist loosen the sauce. It’s also possible to reheat this pasta within the microwave in 30-second increments.
Extra Simple Pasta Recipes
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Prepare dinner the pasta. Deliver a big pot of water to a boil. Add the teaspoon of salt to the boiling water, adopted by the rigatoni. Prepare dinner the pasta in line with the package deal directions till al dente. As soon as cooked, drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Put aside.
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Saute the aromatics. In a big skillet or saucepan, warmth the olive oil over medium warmth. Add the shallots and saute till translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 15 seconds or till aromatic.
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Construct taste. Stir within the tomato paste, butter, and pink pepper flakes. Saute for 2-3 minutes till the tomato paste has darkened in coloration.
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Deglaze. Pour the vodka into the skillet and prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes, stirring often to knock any brown bits off of the underside of the pan.
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Make it creamy. Whisk within the heavy cream and let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes.
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Make it tacky. Flip the warmth to low and add the cheese. Stir till melted.
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Put all of it collectively. Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta. If the sauce is simply too thick, stir in a little bit of the reserved pasta water to skinny it out. Flip off the warmth and season with salt and pepper to style.
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Serve. Serve heat garnished with contemporary parsley.
Serving: 8ounces | Energy: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 15g | Fats: 26g | Saturated Fats: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 8g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1.322IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could range in line with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.