When I first met Shane, we used to eat out ALL the time. A home-cooked meal was a very rare thing. After we moved in together, we did start cooking more, but on average still ate out at least twice a week. Granted, those were the days before I started this blog; I really didn’t know how to cook, and frankly, I didn’t find it all that enjoyable. Fast forward a few years, and wow, have things changed. I have fun planning and preparing our meals most nights, and I can count on one hand the number of times the two of us have gone out for a sit-down meal together in the past year. I’d rather take all that money we save on not eating out and put it toward a great vacation somewhere anyway π
We do still order a pizza or Chinese take-out a few times a month if we have a busy day, or just don’t feel like cooking, but it’s more the exception than the rule. The other day I noticed that Five Guys is opening its first location in our area (about 5 minutes from our house!) and something tells me we’ll be stopping in there before long to see what all the hype is about. Neither of us has ever had it, but people seem to LOVE that place. Have you guys eaten there? Is it good?
When we do go out to eat, it’s rarely Italian food, and I have to confess I’d never had penne alla vodka before I made it a few weeks ago. It’s definitely my kind of meal though, and it won’t be the last time it’s on our menu. The ingredient list is pretty short, and I generally have everything I need on hand (except the penne apparently π ), plus this can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes so it’s great for those nights when you just need to get something on the table without a lot of fuss. Pasta in a creamy tomato sauce with a little bit of vodka thrown in for good measure – it’s both simple and comforting, what’s not to like about that?
Penne alla Vodka
from Cook’s Illustrated
1 (28 oz) can whole tomatoes, drained (liquid reserved)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 lb penne (or other pasta shape)
1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves
Parmesan cheese, for serving
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, until just shy of al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
Meanwhile, add half of the tomatoes to your food processor and pulse until smooth. Dice the remaining tomatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Combine the diced and pureed tomatoes in a 2-cup measuring cup, and if necessary, add the reserved liquid until the total measures 2 cups.
Set a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering. Stir in the onion and tomato paste, then cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, or until the onions begin to soften. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Mix in the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Take the pan off of the heat and add the vodka. Return to the burner, increasing the heat to medium-high, and simmer until the alcohol flavor is mostly cooked off, about 8-10 minutes (lower the heat to maintain a simmer if necessary). Stir in the cream and cook just until hot, about 1 minute.
Add the pasta back to the pot you cooked it in. Pour the sauce over the pasta, and toss over medium heat until the pasta absorbs some of sauce, about 1-2 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, you can add some (or all) of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin. Stir in the basil and season to taste with additional salt, if necessary. Serve, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan, if desired.
Funny, but I have been thinking about Penne a la Vodka lately. A friend mentioned she was making it a couple of weeks ago and I have wanted it ever since. It’s CI, so u am sure it’s good. Going on the ASAP list.
I rarely have Italian when I go out to eat too.
I have been to Five Guys, it is good, but there are other places I like better still (unfortunately none of those places are where I live).
I like Five Guys but don’t be fooled by the “little” and “regular” burger. The little is one patty, the regular is two. I call 5 guys the greasy spoon b/c you have to eat it there or else when you get home the bag is full of grease from the frie…which by the way are OFF the CHAIN! I think you will enjoy.
This is my sister’s favorite dish at Italian restaurants–I’ll have to try to make it for her!
Confession: I am not a big fast food person, but I do love Five Guys’ burgers. They taste like they just got put together off the grill (…mostly because they did) and they’re very liberal with their shovels of fries, hah. π
This is one of my fave pasta dishes! LOVE Five Guys. They built one about 10 minutes from me last year. Dangerous.
You are on a roll! I’ve bookmarked and printed more of your recipes this week than any other site. We clearly share a similar palate (:
Any time I could incorporate alcohol into a sauce (or a dessert!) I am a happy girl. Looks great!
Penne a la vodka is fine. However your picture is of orecchiette pasta. Can’t slip that one by me.
oh dear god, I am so hungry right now just looking at that bowl. I love vodka sauce. I finally made it for the first time a couple months ago and I’m so obsessed with it!! looks great π
You are a girl after my own heart! This is my favorite pasta dish. With fresh parm?? Swoon!
This was actually one of the first dishes I learned how to cook! I haven’t made it in years though, I need to get my version on the blog (I think it’s similar)
We have a Five Guys and I haven’t tried it yet–let me know what you think!!
@Anon – Wasn’t trying to slip it by anyone, hence the joking reference to penne in the post!
This looks so delicious! Good for you, less than 5 times in a whole year?! I’m impressed. We try to minimize it, but still probably go out 1-2x/wk.
I have never had this either, but I am willing to enthusiastically get onboard with trying to rectify that immediately. Looks great.
I’ve never had this pasta dish before but after seeing how delicious yours looks I may just have to try it! My boyfriend and I tried 5 guys after hearing it was the president’s favorite burger spot but it was pretty underwhelming, I’ve definitely had better burgers.
Looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never tried this dish before but it looks so good! And yes I’ve eaten at Five Guys before – we have several of them in the area but I’ve only eaten there once. Thought the fries were greasy and icky but the burger was AWESOME! π
Oh, I love vodka sauce and I haven’t made it in forever! So delicious…yum! π
This looks delicious! I’ve had penne alla vodka once, but it was such a long time ago I cannot even remember what it tasted like. I love that you used the little pasta “ears” instead of the penne, also.
We have a Five Guys not too far from us as well, and have never tried it. I know everyone raves about it but we just never think to go out for just burgers.
Looks yummy! I’ve been hesitant about trying to make the dish ever since I tried vodka sauce from a jar- several years ago. The more I think about it, though, it sounds like a great dish to make on a weekend evening:)
#1 – This looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to give this a try at home, and you can’t go wrong with Cook’s Illustrated.
#2 – Love, love, LOVE Five Guys! Best burgers ever. It’s one of only two places I’ll splurge on a burger now π
I love the shape of this pasta. REally cute.
It’s funny when you look back at your cooking “pre-blog.” We didn’t eat out much (we were both students at the time), but things like pre-made boxed meals and hamburger helper were common π
I don’t believe I’ve ever had penne alla vodka either, but this looks great!
We eat pasta all the time. This sounds really good.
wow! i like the dishes! i admire you on your cooking π i am new in recipe blogging. I hope you’ll visit my blog too and feel free to leave a comment there π
I have never tried vodka sauce, but have wanted to. This looks like a great recipe.
I am a big fan of Five Guys for what it is (a quick service place). Can you get better food else where? Yes, but you also pay more and wait for it. They do have amazing fries though!
We tried 5 Guys awhile ago and wasn’t impressed but I’m pretty sure it was just our location since so many other people love it. I need to give it another try soon.
My husband just bought a massive bottle of vodka and then decided he was done drinking FOREVER. Guess I need to make this to get rid of some of it, huh?
It’s definitely been too long since I’ve made this. Time to add it to the menu…
this is one of my favorite CI recipes. so so good!
We don’t eat out that much either, and I know we save a ton of money. I’ve been to Five Guys but I had a grilled cheese sandwich because I’m not much of a meat eater. It was good though, and the fries are great!
I look forward to making this. As far as Five Guys goes its a great place but word of advice… Get the smallest burger and fries. They are normal size.
So, I just randomly peruse food blogs to collect recipes to use… sometime in the near future. haha Anyway, I love your blog; the recipes are very descriptive and detailed, just how I like them. X3
Anyway, this is kind of a superfluous question in regards to this particular recipe, but what is the type of pasta pictured? It looks really interesting; I’ve never seen it before. I’m just curious because I’d like to try it instead of penne. Thanks so much. ^^
@Hayley – Thanks so much for your kind words, I really appreciate it π
The pasta I used in this dish was orecchiette. It’s not something I see in my regular grocery store that often – I grabbed it at Trader Joe’s.
Hi, i’m italian ^_^ there aren’t penne but orecchiette π