Tortellini in a Tomato Vodka Sauce

My husband found this recipe for a tomato vodka sauce and it has turned out to be delicious! It also has a little bit of a kick from some red pepper flakes in the sauce. We have made it a few times now. We have used penne pasta, as well as with tortellini (as seen in the post).

To make the sauce you will need:

• 12 oz. PASTA (Pick your favorite pasta! We used tortellini!)
• 2 Tbs OLIVE OIL
• 1/2 medium ONION, minced
• 28 oz. can PLUM TOMATOES, diced (or a food processor)
• 3/4 cup VODKA
• 3/4 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES
• 1/2 tsp SALT
• 1/3 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/2 cup GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
• 2 Tbs fresh PARSLEY or BASIL, chopped

Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling cook your pasta of choice and set aside. Save 1/2 cup of the pasta water to add to the sauce later.

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onion (the onion in the picture below isn't minced...we tried leaving bigger chunks this time, but decided it was better last time when we had minced the onion) and cook until the onion is tender.

Next, add the crushed tomatoes, vodka,  pasta water, salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together and bring to a boil. Simmer for 12-15 minutes until the sauce thickens a little bit.

Add the cream and simmer for another minute to make sure the sauce is still warm.

Stir in the parmesan cheese and then the cooked pasta. Next, mix in the parsley or basil and then cook for another few minutes while continuing to toss the pasta and sauce to make sure everything is well mixed and hot!

Then dig in! Yum!

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Tortellini in a Tomato Vodka Sauce

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. PASTA (Pick your favorite pasta! We used tortellini!)
• 2 Tbs OLIVE OIL
• 1/2 medium ONION, minced
• 28 oz. can PLUM TOMATOES, diced (or a food processor)
• 3/4 cup VODKA
• 3/4 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES
• 1/2 tsp SALT
• 1/3 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/2 cup GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
• 2 Tbs fresh PARSLEY or BASIL, chopped

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling cook your pasta of choice and set aside. Save 1/2 cup of the pasta water to add to the sauce later.
2. In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onion and cook until the onion is tender.
3. Next, add the crushed tomatoes, vodka,  pasta water, salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together and bring to a boil. Simmer for 12-15 minutes until the sauce thickens a little bit.
4. Add the cream and simmer for another minute to make sure the sauce is still warm.
5. Stir in the parmesan cheese and then the cooked pasta. Next, mix in the parsley or basil and then cook for another few minutes while continuing to toss the pasta and sauce to make sure everything is well mixed and hot!

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Here is the website where I found the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/penne-with-vodka-sauce-recipe2/index.html