Penne and Vodka Sauce

356 Reviews

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Ready In: 25 min

“One of the best and easiest recipes I have tried. You can find pancetta at any good Italian deli, try not to substitute as it makes the dish. This is also very good with shrimp added in the last few minutes of simmering. If you like spice, add a dash or 2 of red pepper flakes.” - by Rick Naylor

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 pound thinly sliced pancetta bacon, chopped
1/3 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Metric US

Original recipe yields 4 servings

Directions

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.
Meanwhile, melt butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta, and saute until lightly browned. Add vodka and stir until it is reduced by half, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
Stir in pasta, and heat through. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Amount Per Serving (4 total)

Calories
795 cal
40%

Fat
35.2 g
54%

Carbs
87.9 g
28%

Based on a 2,000 calorie diet

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Reviews (356)

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185

APALLEY

Dec. 15, 2003

"I wanted to reduce calories without sacrificing flavor in this recipe, so I substituted fat-free half and half for the heavy cream - no discernable difference in taste and greatly reduced the fat!! A..." See morelso added a generous amount of freshly gorund black pepper. It was a huge hit!"

118

thomasby

Jan. 11, 2008

"We love this one so much that I made it the night I asked her to marry me! We use fat free half and half also, and don't miss anything. I've tried it with regular bacon in a pinch, and it's definite..." See morely worth a trip to the specialty store (or aisle) for the pancetta. The pancetta just gives a great salty bite to the sauce. I serve with fresh bread and a simple salad. "

105

JDVMD

Jan. 5, 2004

"Made this for our best friend's wedding anniversary celebration and it was beyond fabulous. They, along with my family, are asking for this dish constantly, even the picky kids liked it. Had a little ..." See moretrouble finding the pancetta but was successful in the end. Also used Gray Goose vokda. Superb! Easy! You can't get any better than this. I also served with it a warm goat cheese salad, fresh French bread and chocolate Grand Marnier creme brulee."

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