Some nights I just feel like making a quick and easy dinner. That doesn’t mean I want a tasteless meal – I still want something that has a lot of flavor! In summer when I have the bounty of the garden this delicious tomato sauce is a first choice. That doesn’t mean it isn’t also a delightful pick in the off season when I can use either my canned tomatoes or some organic canned tomatoes from the store. This recipe for Pasta in Tomato Vodka Sauce comes together very quickly and is one to keep handy for busy weeknights.
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Pasta in Tomato Vodka Sauce
1 14 to 16 oz pkg pasta (cats, elbows, fusilli or any shaped pasta)
1 TBS olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups tomatoes, diced (or 2 16 oz cans)
1/4 cup vodka
2 TBS fresh herbs, chopped (I used basil, thyme, marjoram and oregano)
salt to taste
Parmesan cheese
Cook the pasta for one minute less than the package directions. Drain and return to the pot and set aside. (I used cat shaped pasta for dinner this night. No reason one’s meal shouldn’t be fun, right?)
While the water is coming to a boil, put the olive oil in a pan and heat it over medium – high heat. Toss in the garlic and cook until it begins to smell good.
Add the tomatoes, 1/2 tsp of salt and bring to a boil. Stir in the vodka and let the sauce cook until it reduces a bit and thickens.
Add the chopped herbs and let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes.
When the sauce has reached the consistency you would like turn off the heat.
At this point you can add it to the pasta in the pot.
Mix everything together, adjust the seasoning if necessary and let it sit in the pot for 5 minutes before serving. Grate some Parmesan over the top and serve!
How Was the Pasta in Tomato Vodka Sauce?
It was really good! The vodka added a nice, somewhat sweet layer of flavor under the tomatoes. On other occasions that I have made this meal I have stirred in a little bit of heavy cream at the end and that is also very delicious. I love that this is a meal that comes together quickly and can use the bounty of my garden either fresh or canned.
Pasta in Tomato Vodka Sauce – Recipe
A quick, easy and delicious pasta meal perfect for weeknights
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 1lb pkg pasta (elbows, fusilli, any shaped pasta)
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 cups tomatoes, diced (or two 16oz cans)
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 2 TBS fresh herbs, chopped (I used basil, thyme, marjoram and oregano)
- salt to taste
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta for one minute less than the package directions. Drain and return to the pot and set aside.
- While the water is coming to a boil, put the olive oil in a pan and heat it over med – high heat. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to smell good. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the vodka and let the sauce cook until it reduces a bit and thickens.
- Add the chopped herbs and let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes.
- When the sauce has reached the consistency you would like turn off the heat.
- At this point you can add it to the pasta in the pot.
- Mix everything together, adjust the seasoning if necessary and let it sit in the pot for 5 minutes before serving. Grate some parmesan over the top and serve!
Keywords: pasta in vodka sauce, easy weeknight meals, easy dinner, 30 minute meal
