Penne Alla Vodka - Need a Good Tried and True Recipe

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Marko Tsourkan

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There is a place near by that makes a killer Penne Alla Vodka. Pink and creamy, not too thin, not too thick, just the right consistency and just the right sweetness. I tried a couple of different recipes, not the same. So I wonder what the secret to a creamy tomato souse is.

If somebody can point me into a right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

Marko
 
Lidos Bastianich Italian-American Cooking
I'll send it to you
 
Vodka has no perceptible flavour in sauces-its just an excuse for Chefs to order Vodka for"culinary"purposes.
 
The two most important things are the tomato (acid) to cream ratio and temperature control; keeps sauce from breaking.
Other than that, I use standard mirepoix, pancetta, crushed red pepper, dried basil, and porcini mushrooms in mine.
 
You have to really sweat the shallots and prosciutto, let the cream reduce by half an then it's 3-1 tomato to cream. Salt and pepper and its always worked for me. Letting the cream reduce before you add the tomato sauce is a key to creaminess.
 
I will experiment a bit and I might have to bug you guys on pm for some guidance. :)
You in turns, can bug me about anything knives related.

M
 
i like to just take tomatoes whole into a pan with olive oil, pressed garlic, fresh basil & oregano, cook until skin is roasted then mash the tomatoes up, i like to add some crushed red pepper or chili, then i deglaze with white wine and let it reduce. Then depending on what im having say with shrimp and pasta, id take a pan and sauté the shrimp, deglaze that with vodka, add cream and bring to boil, then add tomato reduction( strained if you want it creamy), parmesan, (i use to add chicken, or vegetable consommé for extra flavor but thats optional), and let reduce, add pasta and it will thicken slightly and season.

use to make it all the time its pretty tasty.
 
I wonder what would the flavor be like with substituting gin for vodka??
 
I thought I remember reading somewhere that tomatoes contain certain flavors that are only soluble in alcohol....sounds weird but it is in the back of my mind.....Ryan
 
I thought I remember reading somewhere that tomatoes contain certain flavors that are only soluble in alcohol....sounds weird but it is in the back of my mind.....Ryan

yup

whether or not it makes a noticeable difference is up to the taster, imho
 
I thought I remember reading somewhere that tomatoes contain certain flavors that are only soluble in alcohol....sounds weird but it is in the back of my mind.....Ryan

I was always wondering about that. Never was a big fan of it, especially if it still reeked of alcohol, though. That said, the best I ever had came from an Italian store in Providence, RI, in a pint container. :) Never made it myself, though.

Stefan
 
Thanks for that link spike. Must give that a try...pretty easy
 
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