Vodka Cream Sauce

Submitted by: JustRightMenus

Description:

This creamy tomato-based pasta sauce has a strong, fresh flavor; suitable for a "fancy dinner night," or just a quick meal.

Recipe also titled "You Won't Be Single for Long Vodka-Cream Sauce."

Servings: 4

Categories: Italian, fancy dinner night, pasta, sauce

From the kitchen of:

from Rachael Ray: 30-Minute Meals (her first book), page 44

Ingredients

3 TB olive oil (though I have found 1/3 that amnt works just fine)

2 cloves garlic, minced

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

20 leaves fresh basil, roughly cut or torn (count 2 small leaves as one leaf)

2/3 cup vodka (a few good glugs) ... As a general rule, don't cook with a quality of liquor/wine you wouldn't drink; you'll regret it.

4 servings linguine or fettuccini

1/4 - 1/3 cup heavy cream or half-and-half

Directions

Go ahead and put the water on to boil for the pasta.

Heat olive oil and garlic in a deep saucepan over medium heat.

When the garlic speaks (i.e. when you can hear it sizzle), add tomatoes and heat through.

Stir in the basil leaves.

When the basil wilts, stir in vodka and bring to a boil. Give the pan a shake (or a quick stir) and reduce the heat to low.

Simmer until your pasta is cooked al dente.

When you drain the pasta, add the cream to your sauce, then stir in until sauce blushes a shade or two lighter.

Toss the sauce with the hot pasta and serve with bread, green salad, and a nice Chianti.