Description
Creamy pumpkin pasta alla vodka blends Italian comfort with autumnal warmth, creating a luxurious dish that dances between rustic and elegant. Silky sauce and perfectly cooked pasta invite you to savor each comforting, rich bite of seasonal goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Ingredients:
- 454 g (1 lb) penne pasta
- 300 g (10.5 oz) fresh or dried penne pasta
Main Ingredients:
- 400 g (14 oz) pumpkin puree
- 240 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) vodka
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 medium onion
Seasoning and Finishing Ingredients:
- 30 g (1 oz) parmesan cheese
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil
- 5 g (1 tsp) salt
- 3 g (1/2 tsp) black pepper
- 2 g (1/2 tsp) red pepper flakes
- 5 g (1 tbsp) fresh basil leaves
- 15 g (1 tbsp) butter
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the penne pasta.
- In a separate large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté finely chopped onions until translucent and soft.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Pour vodka into the skillet and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce alcohol content and concentrate flavors.
- Stir in pumpkin puree and heavy cream, mixing until the sauce becomes smooth and uniform in color.
- Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, stirring to distribute the spices evenly.
- Cook pasta in boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Add butter to the pumpkin sauce, stirring until melted and fully incorporated.
- Gently fold cooked pasta into the creamy pumpkin vodka sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is well-coated.
- If sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta.
- Garnish with fresh torn basil leaves just before serving.
- Plate immediately and enjoy the warm, creamy pumpkin pasta alla vodka.
Notes
- Keep the pasta water handy for adjusting sauce thickness, preventing a dry or overly thick consistency.
- Use fresh garlic for more intense flavor compared to pre-minced varieties, enhancing the overall taste profile.
- Choose a neutral vodka to let pumpkin and parmesan shine without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version that maintains creamy texture while adding subtle sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg