Penne With Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce

Crafty Lady 13's Note:

I found this on another website, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. Hearty Italian sausage sauteed with garlic and red pepper flakes are simmered with tomatoes and cooked with vodka and cream to make a rich, spicy sauce. Toss with penne and fresh parsley to serve.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb uncooked penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves , minced
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vodka
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ½-1 lb sweet Italian sausage

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente, drain.
2. In large skillet, heat oil over moderate heat. Add sausage, breaking up the meat, until brown. Add garlic and red pepper and cook, stirring until garlic is golden brown.
3. Add tomatoes and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
4. Add vodka and cream and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and add pasta, toss for 1 minute. Stir in fresh parsley and serve,.

Reviews

[Pancakee]

Plate-licking good. I like my pasta saucy/goopy, so I used only 1/2-3/4 lb pasta. It was enough for 2 dinner servings and 2 lunch leftovers. I like spicy, so I cooked 1/2 lb of hot italian chicken sausage. When cooking garlic, I also sauted one small finely minced onion as well. Then added the red pepper flakes, with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp oregano (probably could do 1/2 oregano). I used fat-free half and half and 4 tablespoons of vodka. I had no parsley, so used about 8 leaves of fresh chopped basil. Topped with a fistful of parmesan cheese, and mixed it all up. Penne is the best because all the meaty sauce gets stuck inside. This was the first time I've had penne alla vodka, and it was great! Thanks for the delicious dinner!

[Chef #847160]

it was ok ,thanks

[Veggie Girl Kacey]

Excellent dish. I added an onion and used honey garlic sausage instead (all I had on me). It turned out delicious. I am going to make another round of it but this time using hot sausage and I might add a green pepper just to change up the dish. My husband loved it. He went back for THREE bowls and joked about how "terrible" it must be and that he needed to get rid of it as soon as possible... Needless to say it is now going to be a staple in our house.