Spicy Rigatoni Vodka

Step 1

Season a large pot or skillet with olive oil and heat on medium heat.

Step 2

Add the onion. Season with a generous pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes, tossing every 1 minute or so until the onions are softened and translucent.

Step 3

Add the Calabrian chili peppers and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant.

Step 4

Adjust the heat to medium high and add the tomato paste to the pan. Mix to combine with the other ingredients, then add 1 tbsp of butter into the tomato paste mixture. Let it melt, add a generous pinch of salt and stir together. Cook the tomato paste for approximately 7-9 minutes, letting the tomato paste brown on the bottom of the pan. If the pan is drying up, add a little more olive oil. Toss every 1-2 minutes or so to prevent uneven cooking.

Step 5

While the tomato paste is cooking, fill a large stockpot with water and season with 3 tablespoons of kosher salt. Bring to a boil.

Step 6

Pour the vodka into the pan, over top of the tomato paste and scrape up all golden brown bits from the bottom. Mix all of the ingredients together. Adjust the heat to low and add the heavy cream. Stir until combined and let it simmer on low heat.

Step 7

Add the pasta to the pot and cook until al dente according to the package instructions (should be about 8 minutes.)

Step 8

Adjust the heat on the sauce to medium-low, then transfer 2/3 cup of pasta water and shredded Parmesan to the sauce and stir together. Taste to make sure the levels are salt are to your liking. If you would like more salt, feel free to add a light pinch or more cheese.

Step 9

Transfer the al dente pasta to the sauce and toss until fully coated. Feel free to shred more Parmesan onto the pasta as you toss it to develop a stickier texture. If you want the sauce to be more "saucy," add more pasta water. Remove the pasta from the heat when you reach a consistency you like! Enjoy immediately.