Vodka-Infused Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A silky tomato sauce enriched with vodka and fresh basil, tossed with al dente pasta and finished with grated Parmesan. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 1/4 cup vodka and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced.
  4. Step 4: Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer sauce for 8 minutes until it thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, cooking for 2 minutes until well combined and creamy.
  6. Step 6: Toss drained pasta into the sauce along with reserved 1/2 cup pasta water to loosen if needed. Mix in 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and coating the pasta evenly.
  7. Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil or Parmesan if desired.

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