Best Rachel Rays Pasta A La Vodka Recipes

RACHEL RAY'S PASTA A LA VODKA

Steps:

• Place a large pot of salted water on high heat.
• While waiting for water to boil, place a large pan on medium heat. Add oil, butter, garlic and onions to pan and gently saute for about four minutes. Add vodka to the pan a simmer for about 3 minutes to reduce by half. Add tomatoes and chicken stock, bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce is simmering, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente.
• Just before the pasta is cooked, stir cream into the sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves.
• Serve with a side salad or crusty bread.

ROASTED TOMATO PENNE ALLA VODKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Halve the tomatoes lengthwise and arrange them cut-side up on wire racks set over rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with EVOO and sprinkle with the thyme, salt and pepper. Roast until the tomatoes are slumped but still moist in the center, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let cool.
• Heat 2 tablespoons EVOO in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until very soft but not caramelized, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vodka and cook until reduced by half. Add the chicken stock and roasted tomatoes and heat through. Stir in the mascarpone, then puree into a fairly smooth, creamy sauce using an immersion blender, food processor or blender. Return the sauce to the pot, add the basil and stir until wilted.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta, and season with salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
• Toss the pasta with the sauce and transfer to a glass or ceramic baking dish. Top with the mozzarella and parmesan. If you are making the pasta ahead of time, cool it and then cover with parchment and foil. Store in the refrigerator.
• When you are ready to serve, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake the casserole, covered, until heated through, about 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until brown and bubbly on top, 15 to 20 more minutes.
• Cook's Note: Serve with a salad of escarole or romaine dressed with lemon juice, EVOO, salt and pepper.

PASTA WITH VODKA SAUCE AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water on the stove for pasta. Also put up a deep skillet for sauce and a nonstick skillet for shrimp.
• Gather your ingredients.
• Peel and finely chop the onion.
• In a large deep skillet, heat EVOO, a turn of the pan. Add 2 tablespoons butter and when it foams add the onions. Stir to soften while you peel and chop the garlic. Add 2 cloves of chopped garlic to onions and season with salt. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of chili paste or about 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Add vodka and reduce by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and tear in a few leaves of basil. Reduce heat and simmer sauce, 10 minutes.
• Season pasta water with a fat tablespoon of salt, add penne and cook 1 minute less than package directions, about 8 minutes. Have a mug or measuring cup on hand.
• Add shrimp to a medium bowl and toss with remaining garlic. Thinly slice a lemon and toss with shrimp.
• In the second skillet, heat EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high and melt in 2 tablespoons butter. Add the shrimp mixture and toss 2 to 3 minutes; shrimp should be pink and opaque. Add a splash of Pernod or vermouth, the remaining red pepper flakes, a little salt and parsley; toss. Turn off heat.
• Add cream to sauce and stir. Add shrimp to sauce, bring back to a bubble and turn off heat.
• Reserve about 1/2 cup of starchy salty water and drain pasta or transfer to sauce with a spider. Toss pasta with sauce and grated cheese, using water to loosen as necessary.
• Transfer pasta to large serving bowl or to individual shallow bowls to serve.