Olive oil
Butter
Shallots, peeled
Garlic, peeled & minced
Tomato paste
Chilli paste, Bippi
Vodka
Thickened cream
Salt
Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
Pasta water
Rigatoni, dried
Fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp
1 Tbsp
2 Med
3 Cloves
1/2 Cup
1-2 Tbsp
1/2 Cup
1 Cup
To taste
1 Cup
1/2 Cup
500g
1/4 Bunch
Method
- Cook the pasta – Bring a large pot of well-salted water to the boil. Cook the rigatoni according to packet instructions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water – don’t forget this step, it’s what brings the sauce together at the end!
- Sauté the shallots & garlic – Add the roasted red peppers, thyme, oregano and parsley to the bowl.
- Add the tomato & chilli paste – Stir in the tomato paste & chilli paste (or dried chilli flakes, if using). Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring often — this cooks out the raw tomato flavour and lets the paste caramelise slightly, deepening the colour and flavour of the sauce.
- Add the vodka – Pour in the vodka & let it bubble away for 2–3 minutes, until it’s reduced by about half & the raw alcohol smell has cooked off.
- Stir through the cream – Reduce the heat to low & pour in the thickened cream. Stir to combine & let it simmer gently for a few minutes until the sauce is smooth & slightly thickened.
- Finish with parmesan & serve – Take the pan off the heat & stir through the parmesan until melted & glossy. Season with salt to taste. Tear over fresh basil & serve immediately
What Makes a Delicious Vodka Pasta
The vodka in this pasta recipe helps the dish shine by elevating the tomato and cream flavour compounds to create a richer sauce. The alcohol cooks off as it reduces, so there’s no boozy aftertaste, leaving behind a more complex tomato base.
The balance of ingredients in the vodka pasta recipe creates a mouthwatering dish. Tomato paste provides the concentrated, savoury base, while thickened cream softens and turns it silkier. Bippi chilli paste adds some heat so dial it up or down to your taste. The ridges and hollow tubes of the rigatoni pasta absorb the sauce fully to deliver a satisfying experience.
Quality ingredients will contribute to the best-tasting vodka pasta. Choose Parmigiano Reggiano from LaManna’s Deli, Italian-style tomato paste from the Grocery section, and fresh, fragrant basil from Produce.
If you’re building an Italian pasta night, start with something lighter like a Cacio e Pepe or a bold Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, then bring out the vodka pasta as the main event. For a creamier pairing, our Sausage and Greens Orecchiette uses the same cream-and-parmesan finish with a completely different flavour profile.
Browse more Italian recipes, or check out our World Pasta Day feature for five more easy weeknight ideas.
Does Vodka Pasta Actually Taste Like Vodka?
No. The vodka cooks off as the sauce reduces, so there’s no alcohol aftertaste. What it leaves behind is a depth and complexity in the tomato you can’t get otherwise. The vodka pasta is completely alcohol-free by the time it’s ready.
What Can I Use Instead Of Vodka In Vodka Pasta?
If you’d prefer to skip the alcohol entirely, a splash of white wine or dry vermouth is the closest substitute in this vodka pasta recipe. Both ingredients add acidity and help carry the tomato flavour. A small amount of white grape juice with a squeeze of lemon also works as a non-alcoholic alternative. The sauce will still be delicious, it just won’t have quite the same depth that vodka provides.
What’s The Best Pasta Shape For Vodka Sauce?
Without a doubt it’s rigatoni because its ridged shape and hollow tubes absorb the sauce fully. Penne rigate is the other classic choice. Avoid smooth, long pasta like spaghetti or linguine; they’re too slippery for a sauce this thick and tend to clump together.
Can I Make Vodka Pasta Ahead Of Time?
The vodka pasta sauce can be made up to two days ahead and stored covered in the fridge. Cook the rigatoni fresh when you’re ready to serve. Reheat the sauce gently over low heat with a splash of pasta water to loosen it, then toss through the hot pasta and finish with Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh basil. Avoid reheating the fully assembled vodka pasta as the rigatoni will absorb the sauce and turn soft.
Can I Buy The Ingredients For Vodka Pasta At Lamanna?
Everything you need to make this restaurant-worthy vodka pasta recipe at home is available at LaManna. Pick up rigatoni, tomato paste, Bippi chilli paste from Grocery, shallots, garlic, and fresh basil from Produce, parmigiano reggiano from the Deli, and thickened cream and butter from Dairy aisles.
Browse more Recipes where you’ll also find an authentic Spaghetti Marinara to try next. Come in-store to LaManna at Essendon Fields for more quality Italian products and desserts under one roof or shop online and pick up in-store.
