Lobster Ravioli With a Light Tomato Vodka Sauce

Kozmic Blues's Note:

This sauce is a modification of a pink vodka sauce that I made to go with the lobster ravioli for my family's Christmas Eve Dinner. I find that in alot of restaurants, the vodka sauce is quite a heavy and creamy. This is my creation to try and keep the sauce a little lighter, as well as compliment the lobster ravioli. I realize that lobster ravioli, at least for me, is quite a decadent treat. Please feel free to use this sauce for any pasta, as it goes quite well with them all.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 3 dozen lobster ravioli, frozen
• 2 (28 ounce) cans Italian plum tomatoes, with their liquid (preferably San Marzano)
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed (don't worry, it tastes great!)
• hot red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1/3 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 3/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated, to garnish
• chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions:

1. Bring salted pasta water to a boil in a large stock pot over high heat.
2. For the sauce: Pour the tomatoes and their liquid into a food processor, and pulse until tomatoes are finely chopped.
3. Or finely chop the tomatoes by hand if no food processor is available.
4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
5. Add the crushed garlic cloves to the hot oil to coat the garlic cloves.
6. Cook until garlic is lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
7. Next, carefully add the finely chopped tomatoes.
8. Bring tomatoes to a boil and add salt to taste, and crushed red pepper.
9. (don't be shy here, a little heat is nice!) Let the tomato mixture cook about 2 minutes more, then add the vodka.
10. Lower the heat and simmer the sauce for about 6 minutes, or until the pasta is finished cooking, then add the cream.
11. Stir in the fresh basil.
12. Cook the lobster ravioli, (or pasta of your choice) in the boiling salted water until al dente.
13. If your choose, remove the garlic cloves from the sauce.
14. Drain pasta and mix in a serving bowl with 3/4 of the sauce.
15. Note: I find that I have a portion of the sauce leftover when I make 3 dozen ravioli.
16. Please sauce your pasta of choice to taste, and enjoy the leftovers!
17. Pasta may be topped with grated cheese and chopped parsley before serving.
18. Enjoy!

Reviews

[eac0722]

After reading the reviews I thought that this would be a good recipe - but I was disappointed. I made my raviolis using wonton skins and they turned out very good, but the Tomato Vodka Sauce was very disapointing. The listing of the ingredients says 10 garlic cloved, peeled and crushed - that is what I did. Then later in the recipe it says to remove the garlic cloves - somehow I missed that when I first read the recipe. I took that to mean that the garlic should be put through a garlic press. I think the recipe meant to say "smashed" which I believe would be to take a knife smash the garlic - not crushed. So I found that the garlic was too much for me and I love garlic. The wonton skin Raviolis turned out great - not sure I would try to make the sauce again.

[implete]

Great recipe with a little tweaking. Made a good accompaniment to my jumbo lobster ravioli. Red pepper flakes add just the right spiciness.

[jdrock14]

Just amazing!! I made this recipe for Valentine's Day -- it was a hit! Served it to my in-laws and they were very impressed! We will try this sauce soon over baked chicken or fish. Thank you for sharing this recipe with everyone to enjoy!!