Penne Sausages a La Vodka

Creamy, indulgent, and packed with bold flavors, Penne Sausages a La Vodka is a restaurant-worthy pasta dish you can effortlessly recreate at home. This recipe combines tender penne pasta with savory Italian sausage, a robust tomato-based vodka sauce, and just the right touch of heat from red pepper flakes. Heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese elevate the sauce to a luscious, velvety finish, while fresh basil adds a fragrant hint of brightness. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this 40-minute dish strikes the ultimate balance between comfort food and gourmet flair. Serve it piping hot for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 400 grams penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 300 grams Italian sausages (sweet or spicy)
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 60 milliliters vodka
• 400 grams crushed tomatoes
• 120 milliliters heavy cream
• 60 grams Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 0.5 teaspoons red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
• 10 grams fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the casings from the Italian sausages, if applicable, and add the sausage meat to the skillet. Cook, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 3

Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage, stirring frequently until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute, ensuring it does not burn.

Step 4

Carefully pour in the vodka and stir, allowing it to simmer for 1-2 minutes to let the alcohol cook off.

Step 5

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low and add the heavy cream to the sauce. Stir well to combine and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve the desired consistency.

Step 7

Toss the cooked penne into the skillet with the sauce, stirring to coat the pasta evenly. Cook for 1-2 minutes over low heat to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 9

Serve the Penne Sausages a La Vodka hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves for a burst of flavor, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1505.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3362.5

Total Fat 156.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 60.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 344.5mg	0%
Sodium 5399.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 332.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 22.5g	0%
Total Sugars 16.4g
Protein 120.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 855.7mg	0%
Iron 21.4mg	0%
Potassium 2678.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.8%

Protein: 15.0%

Carbs: 41.2%