Best Chicken Cavatappi A La Vodka Recipes

CHICKEN PENNE ALLA VODKA

Steps:

• Follow package instructions to cook PENNE PASTA with SALT added to the water.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Briefly rinse the pasta with cool water to stop it cooking, and set aside.
• Flatten CHICKEN BREAST to 1/2" thickness with a flat-sided meat tenderizer. Season with SALT and PEPPER.
• Heat OLIVE OIL in skillet over med-high heat. Add CHICKEN BREAST and sauté about 3-4 minutes each side until chicken is cooked through.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board, cover, and rest.
• Continue heating skillet on med-high heat and add a splash of OLIVE OIL, if needed.
• Add ONION and GARLIC. Sauté until the onion is tender and slightly browned.
• Add VODKA and scrape the pan to release any browned bits to deglaze.
• Stir in CRUSHED TOMATOES, HEAVY CREAM, OREGANO, and CRUSHED RED PEPPER.
• Bring everything to a gentle boil. Then reduce heat to med-low and simmer about 10 minutes to thicken sauce, stirring as needed. This also cooks off the alcohol.
• Add COOKED PENNE to vodka sauce and allow to heat through, stirring as needed. Add splashes of the reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
• Add PARMESAN CHEESE to the sauce, continue heating to incorporate, stirring as needed.
• Slice the cooked chicken into 1/2" thick pieces and add to the vodka sauce along with the COOKED CHICKEN BREAST.
• Stir everything together. Add SALT and PEPPER to taste.
• Serve warm garnished with chopped fresh OREGANO or parsley.
• To store, allow chicken pasta to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.

CAVATELLI ALLA VODKA

Steps:

• Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and butter and cook until foaming. Add the onions, season with a little salt and saute until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Add the crushed red pepper, garlic and some salt and pepper. Cook for 15 more seconds. Add the vodka and deglaze the pan. Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer until the alcohol smell subsides, then add the cream. Let it cook down until it is slightly reduced and flavorful, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta to al dente, 4 to 5 minutes for fresh, or according to the package instructions.
• Toss the sauce with the hot pasta and garnish with fresh basil and grated Parm. Serve with a crusty hunk of Italian bread.
• Combine the 00 and semolina flours with the salt on a clean working surface, form into a mound and make a well in the center. Combine the water, olive oil and salt and add the mixture a little at a time (see Cook's Note). Using a fork, start to mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a shaggy mass forms. Knead vigorously until the dough is smooth, elastic and bounces back when pressed, about 10 minutes.
• Cut the dough in half and work with one piece at a time (cover the other piece with a clean, damp kitchen towel). Using a bench scraper or knife, cut a walnut-sized piece of dough and roll it into a thin rope about 1/3 inch in diameter. Using the 4 fingers of your hand (no thumb), roll the rope of dough back and forth until it is a long, slender, tube-like shape (but not enclosed like a tube). Halve the pieces of pasta lengthwise. Set aside on a clean town sprinkled with semolina flour. Repeat with the remaining dough. Rest the pasta for 30 minutes.
• To cook, generously salt a large pot of boiling water. Add the cavatelli and cook until al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and use with your sauce recipe of choice.

ASIAGO CHICKEN AND CAVATAPPI

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, pour boiling water over tomatoes; let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Cook chicken, garlic pepper and salt in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until chicken is brown. Stir in tomato mixture and vegetables. Cover and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Stir in pasta; cook and stir until thoroughly heated. Stir in parsley. Sprinkle with cheese.

CAVATAPPI WITH VODKA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta by following package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add in onion and garlic; cover and cook 3 minutes or until tender.
• Add in tomato sauce; simmer, partially covered, 8 minutes or until thick.
• Combine flour and water, stirring with a whisk until smooth; add flour mixture to pan; cook 1 minute.
• Add in half-and-half, milk, vodka, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Stir in cheese; decrease heat to low; cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring frequently.
• Add in pasta; toss to coat; sprinkle with basil.

PASTA ALLA VODKA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish. Add the shallot and a large pinch of salt and gently fry over a low heat for 10 mins or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Stir through the tomato purée, cook for 2 mins, then stir through the vodka and cook for 3 mins. Quickly stir through the cream to combine, then remove from the heat.
• Cook the pasta in salted water following pack instructions. Drain and reserve 150ml cooking water. Add roughly 50ml of the water to the tomato sauce, then tip in the pasta and cheese, tossing everything together over a low heat until well coated and glossy (loosen with a splash more of the cooking water if it's a little dry). Season to taste, then serve with a sprinkling of the extra parmesan, a good grinding of black pepper and the basil leaves scattered over the top.