Spicy Vodka Pasta – With or Without Vodka

Ingredients

3 cups dry penne pasta cooked 1 minute less than package instruction
2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
½ cup shallots chopped small; or red onion or yellow onion
1 garlic clove minced
2 tablespoon tomato paste
½ teaspoon chili flakes or more or less according to taste and type of chili flakes
3 cups tomatoes as ripe as possible; seeds removed, then chopped
¼ cup vodka see note below for substitutes
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chopped parsley
½ cup pasta cooking water
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, until shallots have softened. Meanwhile, salt the pasta water heavily and start cooking the pasta.

Add tomato paste and chili flakes. Fry the tomato paste and chili flakes for 1 while mixing with the shallots & garlic.

Add tomatoes and vodka. Cook for 1 minute to allow some of the alcohol to cook off.

Add cream, bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to keep that simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Mix in chopped parsley.

Drain the pasta and reserve some of the pasta cooking water.

Mix in pasta and pasta cooking water with the sauce. Taste test and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Simmer for 1 minute, then serve.