Description
This creamy and spicy vodka pasta, famously known as Gigi Hadid’s pasta, offers a comforting and flavorful meal with a kick. It features a rich tomato cream sauce infused with a touch of vodka and red pepper flakes, tossed with your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette work well)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (or 1 shallot)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes until it darkens in color and smells slightly caramelized.
- Pour in the vodka and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol has mostly evaporated.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it cook for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley, if desired.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, use good quality canned tomatoes.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- If you don’t have vodka, you can omit it, but it does add a subtle depth of flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or cream if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700-800
- Sugar: 10-15g
- Sodium: 600-800mg
- Fat: 40-50g
- Saturated Fat: 20-25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15-20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70-80g
- Fiber: 5-7g
- Protein: 20-25g
- Cholesterol: 80-100mg