Description
This creamy, spicy vodka pasta, famously known as Gigi Hadid’s pasta, is a simple yet satisfying dish perfect for a weeknight meal. It features a rich tomato-based sauce with a kick of spice, made without heavy cream, and tossed with your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 small clove garlic, grated
- 1/4 of a shallot, grated
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 lb rigatoni or your favorite pasta shape
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the grated garlic and shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it darkens in color and caramelizes slightly. This deepens the flavor.
- Pour in the vodka and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, to cook off the alcohol.
- Stir in the reserved pasta water, red pepper flakes, and butter. Continue to stir until the butter has melted and the sauce is well combined.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh Parmesan cheese and basil, if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- If you don’t have shallots, you can use a small amount of onion.
- For a richer sauce, you can add a touch more butter or Parmesan cheese at the end.
- The pasta water is crucial for creating a silky, emulsified sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American