Vodka-Infused Tomato Pasta with Roasted Garlic

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 rich tomato pasta sauce elevated by a splash of vodka and slow-roasted garlic, served over al dente spaghetti. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 15 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss 6 whole garlic cloves with 1 tbsp olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  3. Step 3: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins and mash lightly, then add to the skillet along with 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1/4 cup vodka, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer gently for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and the alcohol scent diminishes.
  4. Step 4: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together for 1-2 minutes, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil or Parmesan if desired.

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