Chef John's Penne with Vodka Sauce
Description
Penne alla vodka is a flavor-packed creamy pasta dish that's easy to make by dressing up plain marinara sauce with cream, vodka, rosemary, and pancetta.
Ingredients
•
4 ounces pancetta bacon, diced
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1 small sprig fresh rosemary
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1/2 cup vodka
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1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
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freshly ground black pepper to taste
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3 cups prepared marinara sauce
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3/4 cup water
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1 (14 1/2 ounce) package multigrain penne pasta (such as Barilla®)
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1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
1
Cook and stir pancetta and rosemary sprig with olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat until pancetta 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 vodka reduces to about 2 tablespoons.
2
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 for 20 minutes to blend flavors.
3
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 the pot. Pour sauce over penne and stir to combine. Turn off heat, cover the pot with a lid, and let stand for 5 minutes to allow pasta to absorb sauce. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.