So today I'm going to quit talking and start cooking! We're going to make one of my favorite pasta sauces, Pink Vodka Sauce. If you don't want to use alcohol, that's fine, it's really good without the Vodka also.
PINK VODKA SAUCE
1 jar pasta sauce (good quality, slightly chunky)
1 TBSP. butter
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup Vodka
1 TBSP. each fresh minced basil & Italian parsley (also called flat-leafed parsley)
1 1/4 cup whipping cream
1 - 16 oz. package pasta, cooked and drained
Melt the butter in a large pot. Saute the garlic, basil and parsley for a few minutes, until the herbs wilt and release their oils. Add the vodka and heat it begins to give off steam. Pour in the pasta sauce and mix well. Heat for a few minutes and add the whipping cream. Cook on low heat until the sauce thickens. Serve over hot pasta. May be made ahead and slowly heated.
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Let's start by getting all our ingredients together. This is one of the few times in my life that I'm organized. I like to measure the food out so that I can just move along without having to stop. We're going to need the following: Vodka, whipping cream, bottled pasta sauce, minced garlic, fresh Italian parsley & basil, butter and pasta of your choice. I'm using Rigatoni because it holds the sauce well.
Let's get started. Mince the garlic and the herbs.
Melt the butter, add the garlic and herbs, saute lightly.
Add the vodka and heat until it begins to steam.
Add the pasta sauce and mix well. Allow to heat through.
There will be pasta sauce left in the jar. Here's a helpful tip. Pour the whipping cream into the pasta jar, replace cap and shake vigorously.
This will loosen the remaining sauce. Pour this mixture into the pan and slowly heat to a simmer.
You've added quite a bit of additional liquid to the pasta sauce, so you're going to need to simmer this down until it thickens up a little. I grate some fresh provolone cheese to sprinkle on top.
Serve on top of hot pasta.
I served this with garlic toast and a bocconcini salad, which is fresh mozzarella balls tossed with olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, minced parsley and basil.
Enjoy!
NOTE: If you look down, just under this post you'll see another post that include a You Tube video. Don't miss it. It's very exciting stuff.
10 comments:
Oh I can do this! (I even have the vodka, but don't say a word to anyone about THAT.) I usually just purchase Paul Newman's vodka sauce, but this looks so wonderful that I'll have to give it a try.
YUM!!! The salad is my absolute favorite -- I could eat it all summer long.
xoxo,
Mary
I can't even tell you the flood of memories that listening to Dean Martin brings back to me! I will be humming this all day.
I got through the three-year anniversary of my mom's death without a tear, and then that darn song by Sarah McLachlan had to go and play on your site this morning. Thanks a lot!
I'm just teasing. I don't mind the tears. Queen Elizabeth said "Grief is the price we pay for love," and it must be true.
That sounds so DELICIOUS. I'm drooling!!!
YUMMERS!
Happy day for me, thanks for sharing!
Melissa
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment. Your vodka sauce gave me a great idea for dinner later this week - thanks for sharing!
hugs, Linda
I have visited 4 times today, just to hear that song!
6 times.
Vee - Yes you can!! I won't tell anyone you have vodka, just don't be nipping it when we're not looking.
Mary - Oh yeah...it's goodness.
Suzanne - I'm sorry. You did so well and I had to play that song. Queen Elizabeth was right.
Melissa - Try it, you'll like it. I actually like this best served with homemade pasta. I was just too lazy and I don't have any semolina in the house.
Linda - I'm always glad to provide menu ideas because heaven knows I'm usually at a loss as to what to serve for dinner.
Red shoes- Hmmmm, I thought you were stalking!!! Oh, it's only Dean Martin.
I'm sitting here salivating at the thought!
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