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Penne alla Vodka is a classic Italian pasta dish. It’s the ultimate comfort food–rich creamy sauce, cheese, and bite-sized penne pasta. We wanted to figure out how to make the best Penne alla Vodka, so we translated this authentic recipe from a classic Italian cookbook that we picked up in Rome, Il Talismano della Felicita, then tested it in The Taste Edit kitchen.


We’ve seen some strange additions to vodka sauce in other recipes online. This recipe is about as simple as it gets, and turns out perfectly every time. Note: there is no garlic or basil listed in the recipe below because it is already in the basic tomato sauce we use as the base for most of our sauces.
Penne alla Vodka
Ingredients
- One pound of penne pasta
- One recipe Mamma Agata's Tomato Sauce
- 2½ ounces vodka
- 1 cup, plus two tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- Pinch of red pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mamma Agata's basic tomato sauce is the base for this recipe. If you have already made the sauce, bring it to simmer in a saucepan. Otherwise, prepare the sauce according to the directions here, then proceed as follows.
- Add the vodka to the simmering sauce, and stir to incorporate. You should notice a shimmering effect on the surface of the sauce. Allow to simmer for about 2 minutes, or until you no longer smell alcohol vapors when you stir the sauce. Add the cream and butter, then stir to combine. Add the cheese and red pepper flakes, then keep warm until ready to use.
- To finish, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne one minute less than the package instructions indicate. Drain the pasta reserving about ¼ cup of pasta water.
- Return the pasta to the large pot, add the vodka sauce, and stir to combine. Add a splash of pasta water and simmer for a minute or two, just until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve immediately.