Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka
Total Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 6 | Calories per Serving: 448
Al dente rigatoni coated in a rich and creamy tomato vodka sauce, garnished with a sprinkle of parmesan and dash of red pepper flakes. 
INGREDIENTS
1lbs rigatoni (or pasta of your choice)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 shallot (minced)
3-4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup tomato paste
1.5 tbsp vodka
1 cup heavy cream
1.5 tbsp butter
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper (to taste)DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and pasta to the pot. Cook according to the package's instructions. Drain pasta once al dente, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Set pasta and reserved water aside for Step 5 & 6.
STEP 2
Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add the minced shallots and cook for 3-5 minutes on medium heat, or until translucent and fragrant. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 1-2 additional minutes.
STEP 3
Add the tomato paste to the pan and mix. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the paste has combined with the oil.
STEP 4
Add vodka to the pan, stir to combine, and simmer until it is cooked off - for about 3-5 minutes - mixing often.
STEP 5
Add the heavy cream, butter, and parmesan to the pan and stir until the mixture has thickened and cheese is melted. Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce as needed, about 1 tbsp at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
STEP 6
Add the rigatoni to the pan and toss to evenly coat pasta in the vodka sauce. Remove from heat, garnish with grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, and serve with chicken cutlets, meatballs, or your favorite Italian dish.Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
448 calories | 11.9g protein | 57.9g carbs | 19.7g fat
Make It Vegan
For a plant-based twist on a beloved classic, substitute the following ingredients in this recipe to craft a vegan version of Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka: Heavy Cream <> Full-Fat Coconut Cream
Butter <> Vegan Butter or No Butter
Grated Parmesan Cheese <> Nutritional Yeast or Vegan Mozzarella Shreds