Make sure the vodka cooks for a full minute or two to evaporate all the booziness.
Ingredients
4 Servings
¼
½
1
½
2
1
1
1
2
1
¼
Preparation
Step 1
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until paste is brick red and starts to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add vodka and cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is mostly evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add cream and red pepper flakes and stir until well blended. Season with salt and pepper; remove from heat.
Step 2
Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to skillet with sauce along with butter and ½ cup pasta cooking liquid. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly and adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed, until butter has melted and a thick, glossy sauce has formed, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add 1 oz. Parmesan, tossing to coat. Divide pasta among bowls, then top with basil and more Parmesan.
Step 3
Do Ahead: Vodka sauce can be made 5 days ahead; cover and chill.
How would you rate Fusilli Alla Vodka With Basil and Parmesan?
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Reviews (160)
Back to TopIf I am making this sauce in advance do you add pasta water and Parmesan when making the sauce or right before reheating and serving?
Anonymous
1/14/2024
This was great but next time I might add a little more garlic and vodka. I made it vegan with Miyokos butter, Violife parm, and Sown oat creamer
Emily
Vermont
10/25/2023
2nd attempt and this is a huge winner with a bunch of minor tweaks. Reduce olive oil to a little more than 1/8th cup. Used about 3/4 head of garlic. Increase tomato past to 6oz (the whole can). Like others, added salt and pepper flakes early. Reduce cream by just over 1/2 cup. Keep adding the pasta water! I used more than a full cup, 1/4 cup at a time. So much better! And probably a bit healthier? Will be making this in the reg. I LOVE the version at Jon and Vinny’s, and this is VERY close. I used De Cecco fusilli and it was very good. But J&V’s probably used fresh.
Anonymous
Los Angeles
3/11/2023
Loved this recipe! I followed the reviews and added salt/red peppers with tomato paste which worked well. I also eyeballed a number of things (tomato paste, vodka, parm, subbed yellow onion for shallots) and it was still delish. Seems fairly forgiving as a recipe.
Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA
11/20/2022
This reminds me of the infamous spicy rigatoni vodka dish at Carbone! Very exited to make this.
Ariel K.
9/12/2022
This was an instant favorite for us too! Top 5 pasta dishes we’ve ever made. Period. Yum!
Anonymous
California
8/7/2022
Made this three times in a couple weeks - instant favorite. Finally perfected it the third time. 1.5x the garlic, and you highly recommend adding a pinch of salt and the pepper flakes to the tomatoes as they caramelize. Seasoning after the cream goes in just keeps it a bit bland and no amount of salt after the fact fixes it. This small change was a gigantic improvement. I also just use a slotted claw and put the pasta directly into the sauce - there is enough water dripping in and covering the pasta as it goes in, so no need to add another scoop - easier and still super glossy (also felt the amount listed diluted the taste too much). I like to serve with cavatappi. We will be making this often!!
Gigi
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2021
Very good! However, be sure to note that you reserve 1 cup of pasta liquid as instructed but only add 1/2 a cup. I didn't read it properly and added the whole cup. I think it would have been better with only 1/2 cup because it thinned it out way too much. I was so sad!!
Anonymous
Burlington, KY
11/1/2021
Easy and very good. Excellent with a green added.
Hannah B
Roeland Park, KS
10/26/2021
Where are the save buttons and my Folders? I've been a subscriber for years and cannot find my folders with recipes... SO FRUSTRATING.
cs
phoenix
9/29/2021
I don't know if there is a better pasta sauce than this one... amazingly delicious and so easy to adapt if you need too. I regularly use white or red wine instead of vodka and it's just as great. I also subbed in half a tin of tomato's once when I was out of tomato paste, makes it a more subtle tomato flavour. It's a regular favourite at our house now. Bellisimo x
Anonymous
New Zealand
9/6/2021
So effin delicious !!! Thank you for the simple made pasta that will be part of our family lunch and dinner from now on for pasta nites at home sweet home
Gus Lavidas
New York, Jamaica queens
3/13/2021
This was delicious and came together quickly and easily! My only problem was that my sauce never got thick and glossy despite adding the full cup of pasta water and an extra tablespoon of butter, which was kind of disappointing. The flavor was still there though, so I'm definitely willing to try again! It's one of the best tasting pasta sauces I've ever made, even considering the appearance didn't turn out quite right.
Lauren
Portland, OR
2/21/2021
So comforting and delicious! I served it with a side of some rustic bread & evoo.. it was just like a restaurant! I used 2 garlic cloves instead of 1 for added flavor, and it turned out great!
Jill
Long Island, NY
2/12/2021
Really easy and delicious! Don't skip the pasta water and butter at the end, otherwise, you may feel its too thick. Next time I make this I'll probably add more garlic but otherwise, perfect recipe!
Brooke
Quechee, VT
2/10/2021