| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr 25 min |
| Prep: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 1 hr 10 min |
| Yield: | 6 cups |
Ingredients
- 1 quart Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought marinara sauce, blended until smooth
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 pound penne
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 4 to 6 basil leaves
- 2 dried bay leaves
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional
Instructions
- Simmer the tomato sauce and vodka in a heavy large skillet over low heat until the mixture reduces by 1/4, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir the cream into the tomato and vodka sauce. Simmer over low heat until the sauce is heated through. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well blended.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce, and toss to coat.
- In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrot and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and taste for seasoning. If sauce tastes too acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, to round out the flavor.
- Pour half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce. If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and then pour 1 to 2 cup portions into plastic freezer bags. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 12 servings |
| Calories | 458 |
| Total Fat | 21 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 13 g |
| Protein | 12 g |
| Cholesterol | 30 mg |
| Sodium | 796 mg |
Reviews
Delicious! I’ve made this many times and it always gets rave reviews! Thanks, Giada!
Made this but amended it some. Use more carrots, celery, garlic. Otherwise super solid recipe as a guideline for what to do. Make more garlic bread to soak up the sauce tho!!! 🙂
David’s recipe (30 minutes):
1. Buy vodka sauce in a jar at the store. Try a few out – select your favorite.
2. Boil penne pasta according to instructions and drain. Add some EVOO to keep moisture.
3. In a casserole dish, add cooked pasta and sauce together – mixed.
4. Place grilled chicken in dish and stir.
5. Grate mozzarella over entire dish a day Place in oven at 300 for 20 minutes.
1. Buy vodka sauce in a jar at the store. Try a few out – select your favorite.
2. Boil penne pasta according to instructions and drain. Add some EVOO to keep moisture.
3. In a casserole dish, add cooked pasta and sauce together – mixed.
4. Place grilled chicken in dish and stir.
5. Grate mozzarella over entire dish a day Place in oven at 300 for 20 minutes.
Done.
And it’ll be one of the best recipes on this site.
Very disappointing. I should have read the reviews before making it. Used 3/4 cup vodka and it was way too much. It didn’t cook off and was harsh and overpowering. Dumped the remaining sauce. What a waste of ingredients.
Why does mine taste like tomato soup?
Awesome recipe, made it with Giada’s marinara recipe and served it with fried chicken cutlets, super tasty!!!
This is a staple in my household because I always have Giada’s marinara sauce in my freezer! Thank you, Giada!
PAY ATTENTION TO THE VIDEO! Giada states, “4 cups of marinara and then 1 cup of vodka.” Many marinara jars are 24 oz, hence 3 cups. So DO NOT pour in 3 cups of marinara and then 1 cup of vodka. Do the math! For example, 1 cup of marinara, and then 2 oz of vodka, and 1 oz of cream and 1/8 cup of Parmesan. If you can do math, the result is delicious!
Loved this recipe! I listened to the reviews and only added 1/2 cup of vodka. Delicious and my entire family enjoyed it!
Easy and flavorful